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Beyond the hardship, a ray of hope for Cameroon |
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Written by Eugene N. Nforngwa
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Monday, 12 April 2010 14:50 |
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There has been plenty of bad news. Last year, the economy almost came to a standstill, mainly as a result of the global financial crisis. Thousands of jobs promised by the mining sector and major infrastructure works were frozen. Poverty deepened. Even though civil servants had just received a pay-raise, inflation made the 15% addition senseless. The problems that led to the riots of February 2008 persisted. On the human rights front, Cameroon did not do better than in previous years. Amnesty International pointed out a wide range of abuses and watchdog groups warned that suppression of the media was worsening. In spite of operation sparrow hawks, corruption remained widespread. With respect to almost every parameter, Cameroon remained one of the worst places on earth to do business. Most of these problems persited through the first quarter of 2010.
But that is as bad as it got. Beyond the gloomy postings, the country appears to be picking up slowly and one can dare predict a bright future. Last week, the country launched its first pharmaceutical plant to produce anti-retroviral drugs. Shortly before, a plan to build a bus assembly plant In Cameroon was announced. A US company has just sealed a deal to run a caterpillar rental service in Douala. With cocoa prices now at their all time best in recent years, efforts are being made to increase the country’s output of the crop widely grown by farm families around the country. Mining companies have also announced new plans to begin production and with more and more exploration licenses being issued, petroleum production could soon begin rising again. Huge investments are also planned in the energy sector. All of these come with the promise of thousands of jobs and training opportunities. Right now, the central bank believes that growth could more than double last year’s dismal posting by the close of the year. If everything works well, things can only get better.
A line in the national anthem refers to Cameroon as a land of promise. This has never been truer at any other time in our history than now. Incidentally, this is becoming visible at a time the country is turning 50 (or 49 depending on where you are in Cameroon). That leaves us with the possibility of starting anew. And that is the hard part. This will require bold decision-taking, not only the wishful thinking and empty talk that has governed us this far. Many experts agree that moving forward will be propelled mainly by a return to true development planning, complete with targets and timelines. It will also require more seriousness in curbing corruption and dismantling red-tape, which have been blamed for low investment. For many years, development has been used as a political tool. We believe that has to stop. The strategic interest of the state must rise above political or ethnics consideration. That’s not a choice.
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Beyond the hardship, a ray of hope for Cameroon |
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Written by The Standard Tribune
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Monday, 12 April 2010 14:50 |
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There has been plenty of bad news. Last year, the economy almost came to a standstill, mainly as a result of the global financial crisis. Thousands of jobs promised by the mining sector and major infrastructure works were frozen. Poverty deepened. Even though civil servants had just received a pay-raise, inflation made the 15% addition senseless. The problems that led to the riots of February 2008 persisted. On the human rights front, Cameroon did not do better than in previous years. Amnesty International pointed out a wide range of abuses and watchdog groups warned that suppression of the media was worsening. In spite of operation sparrow hawks, corruption remained widespread. With respect to almost every parameter, Cameroon remained one of the worst places on earth to do business. Most of these problems persited through the first quarter of 2010.
But that is as bad as it got. Beyond the gloomy postings, the country appears to be picking up slowly and one can dare predict a bright future. Last week, the country launched its first pharmaceutical plant to produce anti-retroviral drugs. Shortly before, a plan to build a bus assembly plant In Cameroon was announced. A US company has just sealed a deal to run a caterpillar rental service in Douala. With cocoa prices now at their all time best in recent years, efforts are being made to increase the country’s output of the crop widely grown by farm families around the country. Mining companies have also announced new plans to begin production and with more and more exploration licenses being issued, petroleum production could soon begin rising again. Huge investments are also planned in the energy sector. All of these come with the promise of thousands of jobs and training opportunities. Right now, the central bank believes that growth could more than double last year’s dismal posting by the close of the year. If everything works well, things can only get better.
A line in the national anthem refers to Cameroon as a land of promise. This has never been truer at any other time in our history than now. Incidentally, this is becoming visible at a time the country is turning 50 (or 49 depending on where you are in Cameroon). That leaves us with the possibility of starting anew. And that is the hard part. This will require bold decision-taking, not only the wishful thinking and empty talk that has governed us this far. Many experts agree that moving forward will be propelled mainly by a return to true development planning, complete with targets and timelines. It will also require more seriousness in curbing corruption and dismantling red-tape, which have been blamed for low investment. For many years, development has been used as a political tool. We believe that has to stop. The strategic interest of the state must rise above political or ethnics consideration. That’s not a choice.
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EDITORIAL-Back to the wall |
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Written by The Standard Tribune
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Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:54 |
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The Governing Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement is trying to repair itself. Plagued by attacks from within and without, authorities of the party are calling on members to be more involved and steadfast in their support, especially for the national chairman President Paul Biya. The campaign for the registration of old members and the recruitment of new ones being undertaken by the secretary-general Emmanuel Rene Sadi in parts of the Centre region (page 4) is the most aggressive since the creation of the party in 1985. For the first time in 25 years, the CPDM is now also preaching power to the people.
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Tumi for President: What Wiull He Say Again |
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Written by Eugene N. Nforngwa
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Tuesday, 01 December 2009 12:04 |
 Douala’s influential Catholic archbishop Christian Cardinal Tumi is retired at last. The Vatican let Tumi go two weeks ago, after at least four years’ waiting. As could be predicted, Tumi told parishioners he would not be going into politics. But in a valedictory sermon, he said he was now free to do his own things. What else if not enter politics?
Tumi has received several calls to run for president. In 2004, the opposition coalition came close to convincing him to aim for the top job as a consensus opposition candidate. As a prelate and an Anglophone who has spent his years with Francophone Catholics, Tumi is seen a possible unifier of the nation. His fearless criticisms of the Yaounde regime have earned him much public respect.
But he has often argued that his job as Church minister stood in the way of any political ambition. He said the Vatican would not let him aim for political office – it would require a resignation. In his obduracy, Tumi said he had vowed to himself not to get involved in politics.
But today, Tumi admits he has lost his strongest argument. “The moment has come for me to be free,” he said. In the minds of many Cameroonians, this means only one thing: Tumi for President in 2011. If Tumi sticks to his vow, he would have let go an opportunity to liberate his people. It is often said, “The voice of the people, is the voice of God.” Run Tumi, run!
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