Interview : “We Have A Relatively Important Economic Potential”

Cameroon is faced with multiple socio-economic and security challenges. Government on her part has carried out encouraging efforts but the situation still lingers. What in your opinion accounts for these persistent tensions and what can be done to get out of the quagmire?

Let us start with the socio-economic challenges. We have a fast-growing population with fast growing needs to be satisfied. For many Cameroonians, even some of the basic needs like food, water, housing, health, education, security, employment etc are not guaranteed. Partly because our domestic production is insufficient and cannot help meet all those needs for everybody, partly also because some people consider the sharing of what we have inequitable or unfair. They denounce what they consider as blatant injustices which make them grow angry.

We have a relatively important economic potential. Only quality governance –good public policies, efficient management of various resources, accountable institutions and managers, transparency, citizen participation can make us use our opportunities to the fullest, for the benefit of our people. As for security challenges, they constitute a general trend in the world this time around. Some are outgrown like religious extremism or a big influx of refugees. Some others are home grown such as the so called Anglophone problem. Some others arise from misery or poverty. We also have selfish interests of some foreign countries or multinational organisations that interfere, leading, sometimes, to an unfair competition between foreign powers for influence in our country and our continent. As to what we can do, I think we should first be all the time conscious of these realities. I would also insist, inter alia, on a good, strong and enlightened leadership, a fairer sharing and equitable distribution of the “national cake”, an inclusive and good governance, in order to consolidate our national cohesion, reconcile Cameroonians, restore harmony within our population, preserve peace and security.

In recent times, the social media has been inundated with hate speech and other actions that tarnish the image of the country. How are such actions counterproductive to the development of Cameroon and what can be done to remedy the situation?

As the saying goes, united we stand, divided we fall. Hate speech and all those actions that tarnish the image of our country have a divisive effect within the population. They tend to make us lose sight of what we should concentrate on: i.e. the development of our country, the building of a strong, prosperous and resilient nation, which should instead be proud of its rich diversity.

As a matter of fact, hate speech targets individuals, ethnic groups, communities, religions, social categories, political parties, etc. It tends to exclude, depreciate, despise, demean, discriminate…It does not only manifest itself in words, but also through behaviour, actions, political or administrative decisions, etc. By giving a negative image of our country to the outside world, it discourages investors as well as potential tourists, and make many foreign countries look down on the members of our diaspora.

To change the situation, we need to address the root causes of hate speech. We have to denounce it, educate the population, take concrete steps towards national reconciliation of all the peoples of goodwill. We should also make it a duty to put into practice the lofty values that we proclaim such as justice for all, equity, solidarity, national integration, inclusiveness, equality before the law, accountability… and you name the rest. The National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism has embarked on a permanent campaign against hate speech. Yet, here as elsewhere, the people want deeds beyond words.

How best do you think peaceful social cohesion can be consolidated?

We need to deal with the various hotbeds of discontent and address the lingering feelings of dissatisfaction, whether they are justified or not. It is important to always try to understand the root causes and address them the best way possible. The government has taken a certain number of positive measures.  These measures should be consolidated and enhanced. More specifically we need to: put an end to socio-political crises plaguing our country; make sure that justice, equity and accountability prevail in all sectors; make sure that our common good is well managed, well preserved, efficiently exploited, fairly distributed. To do so we should seriously fight against notorious evils like corruption, embezzlement of public funds, poor performance of public administrations, lack of transparency, cronyism, tribalism, favouritism, laxity, impunity, discrimination, and weak accountability mechanisms. For all this to succeed, exemplarity from the leaders, whatever the levels of their responsibilities, is a must

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