HEAD OF STATE’S NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE NATION

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Fellow Cameroonians, 

My dear compatriots, 

I am convinced that you understand why I am beginning this traditional message by talking about the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic on our planet. In this regard, 2020 will undoubtedly be remembered as a dark year marked by hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide. 

Like almost all countries, Cameroon was affected, perhaps less severely than other States. Despite our efforts, COVID-19 plunged many families into mourning and seriously hampered the functioning of our economy and society. 

I take this opportunity to hail once more the dedication of our physicians, nurses and health personnel as a whole, thanks to whom many lives have been and continue to be saved. 

It is perhaps too early to try to draw lessons from this painful episode which, moreover, is continuing. Needless to recall that this pandemic is not the first and history has it that epidemics wiped out entire populations, the most recent occurring in the wake of the First World War. 

Should man take the blame because of his wanton exploitation of the planet’s natural resources and his constant engagement in conflicts eading to massacres and diseases, as well as experiments to develop new weapons?  I believe the question needs to be asked. Whatever the answer, our era should take credit for clearly posing the problem of the relationship between man and his natural environment. This was, I believe, the objective of the Paris Conference on Global Warming, whose recommendations are still relevant today. 

In any case, we should not rest on our laurels. I have personally observed that most of our fellow citizens no longer comply with the protective measures prescribed by the Government.  

At a time when, everywhere else, there is a second wave of the epidemic, coupled with the appearance of a new and more contagious strain of the virus, I urge you once again to put on your face masks, to wash your hands regularly and to consult a physician or any other health personnel if you notice any symptoms. This is the only way to save lives and to curb the spread of the virus.  

My dear compatriots, 

Our focus on the health situation did not prevent us from devoting ourselves to other essential tasks related to the management of our country, namely: 

- maintaining security and peace throughout our national territory; 

- strengthening our democratic process; and 

- pursuing our economic, social and cultural development programme. 

In recent years, our country has been facing external threats, particularly on our eastern border and in the northern part of our country. 

In the first case, the threat comes from highway robbers lured by easy prey, namely peaceful stockbreeders and their herds.  

In the second, the threat now takes the form of isolated raids by Boko Haram or suicide bomb attempts by teenagers. The effective vigilance and action of our Defence and Security Forces have significantly reduced the activities of these criminals.  

The situation is different in the North-West and South-West Regions where armed groups maintain an atmosphere of terror and insecurity. They attack isolated communities and educational institutions from time to time to discourage parents from sending their children to school. The list of atrocities and crimes committed by these groups is already long. One of the most heinous of them is that which took place in Kumba recently, resulting in the death of seven school children with several others injured. 

This crime, which is a shock to the human conscience, will not go unpunished. All the perpetrators will be hunted down relentlessly and brought to justice. Already, public opinion, particularly in the two regions concerned, can realize, if that is not yet the case, that these so-called “secessionists” are actually nothing more than murderers, and what is more, murderers of innocent children.  To say that the Kumba carnage caused widespread outrage is an understatement. 

I would now like to appeal, once more, to the sense of responsibility of the friendly countries hosting the sponsors and of the organizations financing and running the armed gangs in the North-West and South-West Regions, through various channels. All those who would be identified at the end of investigations as initiators or accomplices of these odious crimes will answer for their actions. 

Yet our Government has continued to demonstrate its commitment to openness and dialogue by, for example, releasing many former secessionists and facilitating their reintegration into society.  

Furthermore, after the Major National Dialogue, the Government fast-tracked the implementation of an ambitious decentralization policy which includes a special status for our North-West and South-West Regions, which takes into account their specificities and aspirations. 

I once more urge the youths who have been enlisted in armed gangs to come out of the bush and sign up with the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) centres in order to return to a normal life, like their other young compatriots. 

The prevailing insecurity in the North-West and South-West Regions has caused untold damage to our country. Our democracy allows for the peaceful expression of all opinions, in compliance with the laws and regulations in force. Otherwise, peace and stability would be jeopardized. 

I hail the patriotic spirit of those of our fellow citizens in the North-West and South-West Regions who are not only increasingly cooperating with the Defence and Security Forces, but are also courageously fighting these armed gangs. They have realized that these gangs are not acting in the interest of the people.  

I would also like to commend here the bravery of our Defence and Security Forces that have not failed in their duty to protect the integrity of the national territory, the people and property. They deserve the respect and consideration of everyone. I encourage them to keep it up and to remain a republican force that respects human rights. 

It is equally regrettable that some of our compatriots, who rallied around a personality who failed to achieve his ambitions during the last presidential election, took advantage of security and health difficulties to try to stir up a revolt falsely referred to as “peaceful marches”. Fortunately, very few people took part in these marches, thanks to the maturity of Cameroonians. 

Needless to recall that in a democracy, access to political office is secured through the ballot box and not through the street, certain media organs or social media networks. 

This is precisely the case in Cameroon where the democratic process is being conducted in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution and the rules laid down by our laws, as amply illustrated by the following recent happenings:  

- In March 2018, the term of office of Senators was renewed. 

- In October 2018, the Head of State was elected with an overwhelming majority. 

- In February 2020, legislative elections were held, with the Government securing a comfortable majority in the National Assembly. 

- On the same date, municipal elections put an end to the system of government delegates in major towns, which are now managed by elected mayors. 

- In December 2020, regional elections completed the implementation of the provisions of the decentralization process. 

Thus, with each passing day, our political will to implement the democratic agenda that is in line with the genuine aspirations of the Cameroonian people is further strengthened, an agenda initiated upon my accession to the helm of State and which led, a few years later, to the institution of the multiparty system. 

To those who are criticizing the imperfections of our democracy, I would like to say that it took us just a few decades to put it in place. The major democratic countries, for their part, did so only after several centuries marked by revolutions, civil wars and even episodes of dictatorship.  

For my part, I am well aware of all that is still to be done. I am, however, convinced that we are on the right track and that soon we will all be proud of our democratic progress. 

My dear compatriots, 

It must be acknowledged that the international context - in particular the coronavirus pandemic and the decline in global growth – took a toll on the performance of our public finance and our economy during the year that is drawing to an end. 

While maintaining our growth targets, we had to take fiscal consolidation and economic support measures in order to weather these difficult times and enable the implementation of a recovery policy in 2021. 

Thus, a decision was taken to finalize African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2021 and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2022 projects, and to continue to implement plans for the reconstruction and development of the North-West, South-West and Far-North Regions. 

Despite these efforts, it is expected that our growth rate, which had stabilized at around 4% in recent years, will witness a sharp decline in 2020 and that inflation will inch up. This is undoubtedly due to the impact of the global economic downturn and our domestic economic trends, especially the increase in security spending. 

Nonetheless, Cameroon’s economy has maintained a certain capacity to rebound despite the difficulties. Thanks to support from our international partners and, in the event of a decline in the pandemic, there is reason to hope for recovery in the coming months. 

In the same vein, I would now like to draw your attention to the recent launch of our National Development Strategy (NDS) which replaces the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) that has come to an end. 

The National Development Strategy defines the main thrusts of our planning up to 2030. The document draws lessons from past experiences and sets new goals for the next decade, notably the structural transformation of our economy and inclusive development.  

It will therefore be necessary to step up the fight against poverty, unemployment and the lingering informal sector. It will also be necessary to strive to achieve an 8% growth rate by embarking on the structural transformation of our economy and enhancing the effectiveness of public spending. In so doing, we will put all the odds of achieving emergence by 2035 on our side. 

Naturally, we will also continue to implement our social development policy which was defined at the start of the current seven-year term concerning youth employment, education, health and family. 

These, my dear compatriots, are the outlines of the action that the Government has, despite the difficulties, strove to implement in recent months and that it will continue to implement in the coming years, which will be crucial for our progress towards emergence. 

I am convinced that we will be able to achieve our objectives, provided that we agree to make the required efforts and to embark on the needed reforms.  

Fellow Cameroonians, 

My dear compatriots, 

The year that is ending has not been an easy one. We had to meet many major challenges. We must remain united and determined, like in the past. The Cameroonian people have always risen to the challenges facing them. 

We should be proud of this.  

Happy and Prosperous New Year to you all.  

Long live the Republic! 

Long live Cameroon! 

Yaounde, 31 December 2020 

2020 End of Year Message From Honourable NGALA Gerard NDOMBANG, Member of Parliament For Donga Mantung Centre Constituency.

It's a great honour for me to attempt a balance sheet of the year that will soon run out, while making projections into the New Year. The year 2020 was a very rough one to most economies around the world and Cameroon, our beloved fatherland was not spared. The covid-19 pandemic dealt a serious blow to almost every aspect of our national life. Thanks to the foresight of the Head of State, president Paul Biya,  the ravaging effects of this deadly pandemic were both mitigated and contained. My deepest sympathy goes to the families that lost their loved ones as a result of this ravaging Pandemic. 

The president of the Republic signed a Finance Ordinance paving the way for the National Assembly to modify the initial state budget as a stop gab measure to downplay the adverse effects of this global health crisis. Despite the economic setbacks Cameroon experienced due to covid-19, it was equally another opportunity for our economy to test her resilience. The 9th February Legislative and Municipal Elections went on as planned. This paved the way for the Regional Elections which was organised on December 6th 2020; the final step towards the putting in place of an effective decentralisation in Cameroon as well as the eventual implementation of the Special Status to the North West and South West regions: a vital outcome of the Major National Dialogue. The cultural specifications of these two regions shall be greatly enhanced by this new arrangement.

The ten regions of Cameroon shall henceforth enjoy a considerable degree of autonomy, a springboard towards our growing democracy and our quest for greater participation in matters of development. It's our turn to exploit this opportunity and forge ahead despite the hurdles.

We hail the education stakeholders of our country especially those in the North West and South West regions for braving the odds to make sure the right to education of the children of these regions were never compromised. Some of them achieved this even at the peril of their own lives, very sad indeed. The Kumba macabre incident remains fresh in our minds. May the souls of these martyrs of education receive Divine justice.

As the new year draws near, we bid farewell to 2020 with a heavy heart. A year with lots of downs, Covid 19 with its ramifications on businesses, education and most especially our health, the Ngarbuh incident, the Kumba massacre which let to loss of civilian lives many of them children.  Even as our pillows were soaked in tears with these unfortunate incidents , attempts were made to exploit such misfortunes for political earns. Quite strange. Politics remains a competition of ideas and impact, never a mischievous adventure. With all these challenges, the state as usual stood it grounds to mobilise resources to fight the deadly global pandemic, establish responsibilities in various macabre incidents and bringing the culprits to book. 

A careful examination of challenges in our urban settings especially the poor waste management scheme, inspired me to nurture this project of full transition from linear to Circular Economy by initiating the Parliamentary Network for Circular Economy (PANCEC), a few months into my parliamentary activities. The project is on track, expected to generate almost five thousand green jobs by militating that all councils of Cameroun attain Financial Autonomy by embarking on Circular Economy. This initiative to revamp our national economy considering the changes brought by the Corona Virus, was after a careful analysis embraced by the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Right Honourable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, who signed an order creating PANCEC on September 3rd 2020. The initiative which is not only an option for government to help decentralized local communities to attain financial autonomy, is a unique opportunity for my humble person to support the Head of State in the implementation of effective decentralization and the attainment of the emergence goal come 2035. This was preceded by an elective convention during which my humble self was elected president of the Executive Bureau. 

The new year which  is pregnant with hope and great expectations starts with a lot of hope as the Head of State on the 30/12/2020 signed a decree that brought up and hamonised  the retirement age to 60 years for categories A and B civil servants. Africa and the rest of the world shall turn their attention to Cameroon as we play host to African Nations Championship, CHAN. The world class sporting infrastructures put in place by the government is a mark of readiness and it is our fervent wish that the football fans feed their anxiety with great spectacle from this soccer jamboree. 

All structures have been put in place for effective decentralisation to take effect next year; the regional councils, the city councils and the councils. This coupled with the anticipated budgetary upsurge to these local collectivities inspire hope of greater participation, accountability and consequently the enhancement of sustainable development. It shall be up to us to take advantage of the available opportunities offered us.

We shall continue to work tirelessly towards the disarmament, demobilisation and deradicalisation of the ex-secessionist fighters for an eventual reintegration into the society through the provision of jobs and other forms of income generating activities.  This shall continue to systematically improve the security situation in the restive regions of North West and South West of Cameroon. This is a prerequisite to improve the education and health facilities as well as road networks, and the marshal plan for the reconstruction of the battered regions.

At the local level, we're working very hard to keep our campaign promises. We won against the backdrop of security concerns and wanton destructions. Our campaign slogan "Peace Crusader, to Rebuild and Restore our Community" is gradually being transformed into concrete reality. Back to School is already a dream come true in all the five Subdivisions of Donga Mantung Division in particular and the two English Speakling Regions in general with little foot dragging notwithstanding in some areas. More and more people are returning home to take up their normal daily activities. This is thanks to the consistent efforts we've made towards restoring peace and serenity.

 In the domain of road infrastructure, the Magba-Kakar stretch is under construction thanks to our efforts. This is the main corridor that links Donga Mantung to the rest of the country since the blockage of the Kumbo- Ndu stretch is still very effective. In Nkambe town, most roads have been graded with gutters and some bridges constructed but for the fact that the Kumbo Quarry which supplies aggregates for tarring is down as a result of the crisis, those  streets would have been tarred by now . The Binshua-Binjeng-Binka road has been graded and the Mamba bridge at Kungi under construction. The Binjeng-Binshua bridge has been constructed as well. 

 Fon's Palace Tabenken, GHS Tabenken and Bondu quarters have been electrified to further serve Mbibu, Njilah and Kudu quarters. GTC Tabenken went operational less than one month after official announcement creating the school thanks to our timely intervention. We constructed two blocks of six classrooms in GS Bondu to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning. All these are part of our campaign promises that we realised in less than nine months in office. We intend to spread our tentacles to other parts of the constituency as normalcy continues to gain momentum.

We are grateful to the dynamic team that make things happen in our constituency. I salute the dynamism of the Mayors of Nkambe and Ndu and the selfless elites who compliment our efforts at every given opportunity. The ease with which this synergy bears fruits has been so far very satisfactory. 

We thank the different media organs, development associations and NGOs who trailed our activities sometimes crediting our efforts with very encouraging awards. To those who were critical of our efforts, we took notice and pray next time they don’t do so as a form of blackmail but as  way to bring their contribution to trigger the positive energy in me to do better.

As we remember the 39 who recently perished in a ghastly accident on the Bafoussam-Yaounde highway, we pray for speedy recovery for those who suffered injuries of varying magnitude. We cease this opportunity to extend our condolence to families who've lost love ones in the course of this year sometimes under very tragic circumstances. I  hereby exhort all travel agencies and road users to take all necessary precautions to preserve the lives of Cameroonians on our highways. 

This new year ushers in another opportunity for us to rise to the pinnacle of sustainable endeavours. We pray for a good dose of courage needed to surmount the obstacles we might encounter on our path. As former US president Thomas Jefferson puts it: "nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude". A man's character is his fate.

Happy new year 2021 fellow compatriots.

Hon. NGALA Gerard NDOMBANG

President General Nigerian Union Bamenda, Offers thanks Giving Mass after Last Attempt on Life by Gunmen

The tragic incident took place on the 18th of November 2020 at Azire New Church Junction Bamenda around the early hours of 8:00 Pm where a gang of hired assassins trailing the President from church to kill, fired four times on his car but he miraculously escaped with sustained injuries which was immediately handled through strict Medical attention thereafter by a cream of specialized Medical Doctors of the St. Mary Hospital.

Thank God, he responded to treatment and after regaining health quickly Prince Ituen Otobong chose to come back to the house of God and give him all the thanks for sparing his life through special Grace.

In so doing he invited the Nigerian community who gathered in their numbers at the Church of Christ to jointly and joyfully praise God for saving the life of their President. 

That was on Sunday the 13 of December 2020 at Independent street Bamenda, where Mass took place. During the high point of the praise and thanks giving service, one of the chief celebrant Evangelist Andrew Ihedi in his preaching and teachings called on all present to see the “Hand of God in every situation” whether good or Bad. That God knows why and how in every situation, which is why he is in special control of every situation.

The President General of the Nigerian Union who doubles as a Minister of God, Chief celebrant and convener of the said thanks giving service on his part, recounted how he narrowly escaped death thrice since November 2018 till date and the last one almost took his life away,  a month ago this 2020. In one he had a car accident, the other was fire consuming his car and the most recent were hired Gunmen who opened fire at him in the car four times. To God be the glory, he recounted calling on all Nigerians to believe in the power of God and shun all fear.

Speaking to the Press in a rather hopeful tongue, he praised the Lord for what happened, called on God to forgive those hired to assassinate him and thanked the Nigerian community for their spiritual, moral and material support. In another direction, he encouraged his Nigerian counterparts not to be scared of what happened to him, that they should go about their business activities and have nothing to do with the internal crisis affecting Cameroon. He added, that the Cameroon government should seek for fast ways on ending the armed conflict as it escalates.

“North West Treasury is Waxing Strong, with Structured and Chronological Payments Made to Beneficiaries Daily” Nopoudem Fernand TPG

This very important information was devorged to the press on the 9th of December 2020 in Bamenda at the Regional Finance payment center.

Taking time out, the Emblematic and dynamic Treasury Paymaster General took out time to explain how the main Regional Payment Centre irrespective of the socio political crisis which has caused the drastic drop of revenue continues to survive the circumstance with prompt payments made and adequate services rendered.

Payments, he reiterated are done as they are programmed systematically and Chronological without favor following strict terms and measures laid down by the Honourable Minister of Finance to ensure quick, effective and secured payments to service providers of the state.

Hear him “we of the Regional treasury have the Paramount responsibility to facilitate the State's financial transaction with the public, business operators and our obligation as Regional Payment auxiliaries is to do so in strict respect of the law while giving them maximum satisfaction”.

According to him, when once the Treasury family in the Regions exercise their functions well without lapses, there is bound to be smooth economic flow and transactions, hence a healthy economic environment is created to encourage business and investment.

Looking at the impact of the socio political Crisis, he regretted the situation with great optimism that things will one day be better  if and only if each an every one contribute his or her own quota judisciouly to help build Cameroon. 

To service providers and contractors, he encouraged them to hold their trust firm with government and to keep on with their Regallian activities of accompanying the state in making Cameroon emergency through smooth economic realization and transactions at this much expected moment that the country is witnessing much transitional aspects and developments in the domain of effective decentralization to a defined status.

The over 20 years in service Senior Finance inspector Mr Fernand, this Reporter must emphasis,  is a graduate from ENAM, who has held several posts of responsibilities in the Ministry of Finance, coming from Nkongsamba central treasury, is the 16th TPG to head Bamenda Central Treasury since it's creation and operation..

MINAT Boss Statement on the Occasion of Pionneer Regional Election Held in Cameroon

ELECTION OF REGIONL COUNCILLORS 

STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER OF TERRITORIAL ADMINISTRATION 

The election of Regional Councillors convened by the presidential decree of 7 September 2020 took place today Sunday 6 December 2020 in all the 58 electoral constituencies. 

10 236 municipal councillors and 14 002 traditional rulers, members of the electoral colleges, were called upon to vote nine hundred (900) first Regional Councillors in the political history of our country. The first, that is municipal councillors were to vote seven hundred (700) divisional delegates, while the latter, traditional rulers, were to elect two hundred (200) representatives of the traditional chiefdoms. 

For this election, the Minister of Territorial Administration granted accreditations to 3457 observers, who freely went to these electoral constituencies nationwide. We are now waiting for their reports. 

In compliance with the regulations in force, the polls started in the 272 polling stations at 8 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. 

Considering that this election is held in a special context marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Elections Cameroon took important precautions, in each polling station, for the respect of barrier measures in compliance with Government’s health protocol (taking of temperature, use of hand sanitizers, wearing of face mask, social distancing and hand washing with soap). 

In his capacity as Government’s Agent in the electoral process, the Minister of Territorial Administration and administrative authorities provided optimum security to Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), independent body in charge of the entire electoral process. 

From the opening of voting stations to closing at 6 p.m., Administrative Authorities gave a minute-by-minute report of this process in all the electoral constituencies in Cameroon. 

At this moment, the Minister of Territorial Administration can say in clear terms that the election of Regional Councillors took place nationwide in a serene, calm and peaceful atmosphere.  

No incident, likely to cast doubt on the credibility of the polls or sincerity of the results from the ballot box, was recorded. 

This is an opportunity for the Minister of Territorial Administration to commend once again the irreversible choice of the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, who has always instructed the speeding up of the decentralisation process in Cameroon. 

The Minister of Territorial Administration would also like to sincerely thank the Head of State who provided all the needed means to all the election stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free election today. 

The Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, has often insisted on the significance of boosting the decentralisation process, the advantage of which, as we all know, is to guarantee the development of Cameroon by granting to all the Regions of the country equal opportunities for their development. 

The proclamation of the results of this election will start as from today by the Regional Supervisory Commission. In conformity with the legal provisions in force, the sessions as of right shall meet shortly to elect Regional Organs. 

The putting in place of Regional Councils will establish the special status for the North-West and South-West Regions; a strong recommendation of the Major National Dialogue convened by the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA and presided over by the Prime Minister, Head of Government.  

As such, The House of Chiefs shall be the exclusive specificity of the North-West and South-West Regions. 

As a matter of fact, no local election will ever raise such enthusiasm and passion. The reason is simple; the election of Regional councillors today has come to complete the setting up of institutions provided for by the Constitution of our country. 

This election will bring the administration closer to the people and guarantee to each Region close development in the sense that citizens, at all levels, sit in Regional Councils and participate effectively from the base in constructing our common destiny. 

It is therefore a historic opportunity that is opened to our country with this election of Regional Councillors. Obviously, there will be winners and losers as is the case in any election; but for the Head of State, His Excellency Paul BIYA, it is rather Cameroon that is the great winner in this process, which establishes the setting up of Regional Councils and Regional Organs. 

Today’s winners must always solicit the competence of the losers and the losers must exercise good faith by putting the interest of Cameroon above any personal or partisan interest. 

Once again, the election of Regional Councillors has showed the maturity of the sovereign people of Cameroon, and master of their destiny, which has just demonstrated, more than ever before, that political legitimacy is obtained through the ballot box and by street protests or on social media. 

The election of Regional Councillors of today will be a landmark in the current mandate of Greater Opportunities. Under the enlightened leadership of the tireless builder, His Excellency Paul BIYA, the future is bright for Cameroon. We should all take advantage of it. 

Once again, I am declaring that today’s election went on in total calm, serenity and transparency throughout the national territory. 

Thank you for your rapt attention.