Cameroon Government: Between Decisions And Implementations

September 16 2014, the Cameroon government gave producers of whisky in sachets two years to evacuate within which they had to stop the production and commercialization of whisky in sachet and begin a new transformation process into packaging. The ministry of Public Health threw its weight on the decision from Mines ministry saying that because it contains high concentration of ethanol, the health risk is disastrous.

September 16, 2016 two years later, the production and commercialization of Whisky in Sachets have instead become high. Cameroon's consumer league has accused the government of being double standard. Instead of using the rod on these defaulters, the government has resorted to dialogue, dialogue which has been spearheaded by Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Ernest Ngwaboubou and recommendations forwarded to the prime minster for final decision.

Observers hold that the government has demonstrated partiality in this case with Whisky in Sachets, what they didn’t do when the outbreak of birds’ flu was announced. This same government descended on Poultry farms, destroying eggs, fowls and products. The Cameroon government was very rigorous in its fight against circulation of non biodegradable plastic bags. She sent agents all over the national territory; the agents seized and destroyed plastic bags from recalcitrant vendors.  

Even though insufficient, the government of Cameroon compelled tobacco producers to inscribe on each packets that Tobacco is dangerous to health of consumers and those around them. So what is so particular about whisky in sachets that the ever ready government is back paddling? Instead of dictating to producers, it is the reverse. Officials of Consumers League say money could be the root of this drawback by the government which seem to have shamelessly conceding to the romantic words of producers who are pleading o grounds that the ban will lead to huge unemployment.

We of Cameroon Concord think that Whisky in sachets are dangerous to the human body and is a silent killer than the birds’ flu virus. We understand that both domains give high revenue to the government but when the health of an individual is at risk, it is imperative on the state to provide them solution. And the solution will start with the total elimination of the circulation of sachets whisky.

The drawback syndrome of the government has contaminated the Littoral administration, few days after the Senior Divisional officer for Wouri, Paul NASERI BEA launched a crackdown on illegal commercial bike riders operating without CEMAC number plates where over 100 bikes were impounded and 15 persons arrested, the governor of Littoral Samuel Dieudonne IHAVA DUBOIS has suspended the operation. Another blow on the administration that seemed powerless in front of protesting bikers. The riders stormed streets of Douala as if to say they are operating in a lawless sector and wish to continue that way.

The crackdown was beginning to be interested especially to commuters who go through hell in the hands of the lawless boys until the governor called an emergency meeting having seen how mobilized the bikers were. The littoral administration has in the past months been unable to sustain or make a comprehensive follow up of its orders.

Travel agencies are still fighting for space houses and buses with pedestrians in town whereas they were given an injunction to leave their respective areas and join others at the Bonaberie motor park. Littoral administration has not been able to solve the chronic urban disorder, Car Vendors around Hotel Du NDE in Akwa have never left their site despite several deadline given for them to do so.