By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The President of the Republic, Paul Biya has given firm instructions to ministers to fight insecurity in the Far North, South West and North West regions of the country, promote appeasement especially during this election year, accelerate decentralization following the creation of a Ministry in charge of this sector and ensure a smooth organization of the 2019 TOTAL African Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon.
Dishing out the instructions last March 15, 2018 as he chaired a Council of Ministers meeting at Unity Palace in Yaounde, President Paul Biya warned ministers against any failure.
These instructions are contained in a special message which he delivered to them at the first contact with Members of Government after the 2nd March cabinet reshuffle.
The putting in place of the Constitutional Council and the hosting of the Africa Cup of Nations were also highlighted at the meeting.
The Head of State ordered for special measures to be put in place to reinforce the performance of the economy, improve the living standards of all Cameroonians and reduce unemployment. He stressed that priority should also be accorded to the provision of basic necessities like water, electricity, health facilities and the construction of road infrastructures.
While instructing Members of Government to use State resources rationally and intensify the fight against corruption, the President of the Republic congratulated the new set of Ministers as well as those maintained in Government. He also advised them to work in solidarity and in strict respect of hierarchy for the general interest of the population.
The Head of State’s message at the occasion mainly focused on the three-year emergency plan and the preparation of the African Cup of the nations of 2019 with insistence that the government must overcome these challenges.
Returning to the details of his expectations vis-à-vis ministers with the prospect of achieving an emergent Cameroon by 2035, President Paul Biya stated that “The frame is drawn, the goals set and known. The action must continue resolutely. I say it clearly. We must do more. We must do better.”
He stressed that the war against the terrorist Boko Haram sect in the Far North region and the preservation of internal security especially in the North West and South West regions constitute government’s top priorities.
In addition, President Biya told his ministers to invest in achieving the second priority of the government which is based on increasing the pace of the country’s growth.
In a practical way, Paul Biya asked for the organization of better coordination between the ministerial departments, a better organization should be ensured, inside the ministries, in order to accelerate the maturity of the set projects and goals, and for better management of finances.
President Biya concluded that “I said, not so long ago, that the government’s team has to consider itself as a mission government. It has to be understood that it is not there to dispatch current affairs but to invent, create and realize. I reiterate this directive, today more than ever because that’s what the Cameroonian people are waiting for. And because we owe it to him.”