Eventful And Irksome

The year, 2024 was eventful with challenges worth recalling. Fortunately for us in Cameroon, its pleasant surprises almost eclipsed the unpleasant.
Cameroonians, hoped for the better considering the number of separatists from the North West and South West Regions, that dropped arms and pledged to join their compatriots and work for peace and progress. In the Far North Region, over 700 ex-Boko Haram associates were reintegrated at the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration Centres. Many pledged to relinquish their rebellious schemes and embrace self-reliant undertakings.
Despite the hopes that were apparently dashed owing to continuous abductions and demand for ransoms, patriotic Cameroonians considered these misdeeds the last kicks of a dying horse. Most of their so-called Generals had been neutralized, masterminds of the separatist move rehabilitated, and were being trained to become responsible citizens.

Pleasant Surprises
As the year drew to its end, Cameroonians lived other pleasant surprises which included an extra ordinary session of the Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community, CEMAC Summit. The leaders of this economic union decided among other issues, to consolidate their economic cooperation and face rationally their economic challenges. Through bilateral discussions with financial partners, they would strive to enhance the economic stability and progress of CEMAC member states.
 President Paul Biya at the closing ceremony spelt out the expediency to follow up the decisions taken at the extra ordinary Summit, aimed at weathering the socio-economic storms that threaten the union.
Another event, which may not be considered a surprise by those aware of President Biya’s interest in sports and his determination to provide good infrastructure, was the decision by the Confederation of African Football, CAF to grant Paul Biya, an Outstanding Achievement Award. The decision was highly acclaimed in Morocco where it was granted and elsewhere by those, who know and appreciate President Biya’s contribution to sports in General, and football in particular. The president’s encouragement of all sporting disciplines could be seen from the honour he gave Francis Nganou, the boxer and fighter whose victories in boxing gave Cameroon the honour and envy it deserves.

CHALLENGES
The year’s woes, included the alarming rate of automobile accidents on our roads, the use of drugs, and the consequent degree of violence in communities. The problem of fake certificates and abuse of the social media, were also a serious cause for concern. But fortunately, Government did not take lightly the challenge to seek a redress of these disturbing trends.
In this effort, Ministerial Departments and non-governmental organisations Instead of merely being worried about the disturbing trends, kept working hard to effect changes for the better. During the year, strategies were reinforced to render the Bamenda Ring road dream, a reality. Much work was covered between Ndu and Nkambe, this Divisional capital and Misaje. 
In other aspects of transport infrastructure, the second phase of the Yaounde Douala Highway was relaunched, and the Babadjou-Bamenda road construction, almost completed. In Yaounde, steps, though timid, were taken to improve the roads as well as ensure an efficient and effective disposal of refuse in the capital city, although this project demands more efforts, to maintain the envisaged goals. 
 Vital and more convincing measures were taken about the construction of the Limbe deep Seaport, the Tiko Airport and improvement of the road network in the country at large. This can be seen from the 2025 Budgetary allocations.

Good Hope
In political administration, the cry about giving decentralisation the meaning, it deserves was taken more seriously. Next year’s budgetary allocations, also shows that more funds have been allocated to reinforce socio-economic development and effective administration of regions.
Despite these measures to give hope to citizens, climate change remains a natural phenomenon requiring joint action at various levels to make life worth living. In Cameroon, citizens were continuously educated to protect the environment through their life style and relinquishment of senseless destruction of forests and other, natural resources.
While these steps were being taken t...