“Good Law Which Opens A Brand-new Era In Official-language Usage”

Why is the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism (NCPBM) embarking on an exercise to explain the law on official languages promulgated by the Head of State on 24th December, 2019?

As you know, for a law to be binding, it must be made known i.e. publicised.  The intention is to ensure that everyone who is to be governed by it, is sufficiently kept abreast of it. It is in this light that after the law on the promotion of official languages was enacted by the President of the Republic, H. E. Paul Biya, in December, 2019, the necessity to explain it has become pressing, especially because of its novelty and extreme importance in our national life.   For your information, the law we are talking about is the brainchild of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, in line with one of its missions.  It is in this regard that the Commission has received high instructions from the Head of State, under whom the Commission operates, to carry out an intensive and extensive explanation of the law to all segments of the Cameroonian public.

How do you intend to carry out the sensitization?

In three stages. The first was among ourselves, members of the Commission, who have to internalise every aspect of the spirit and letter of the law, so that every one of us is on the same page. We did a seminar on that. The second stage is through the media of mass communication to reach a wider spectrum of the Cameroonian population. That is, by using mainstream media and online platforms. We believe that, in this way, we can touch the largest number of Cameroonians and enable them understand the law and its import. So, using your prestigious and popular newspaper is part of that effort. Thirdly, we (members of the Commission) will soon go round the regions to meet the people and directly explain the law to them.  We think that with this all-embracing strategy, we will explain the law better, elicit more understanding, and convince all stakeholders of its over-riding significance and relevance.

What is your perception of the law?

The law is a landmark in the consolidation of our policy of bilingualism in the country.  It intends to enhance the sense of pride which should enthuse us for belonging to a country that is exposed to and indiscriminately uses two dominant languages of some of the most influential, global civilisations. It is a piece of legislation which reinforces our living together in our beloved country that is blessed to have a dual language heritage with multiple advantages. It empowers ordinary citizens in the use of any of the two official languages without being taunted, slighted or discriminated against. It is a good law which opens a brand-new era in the area of official-language usage in our country. And, as such, we call on every Cameroonian to own it and be proud of it.

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