Cameroon:The ‘YANG Three’ CPDM Government Celebrating One year With Huge Debts

It is exactly one year, October 2, 2015 to October 2, 2016 since the head of State Paul Biya made a partial cabinet reshuffle. The decree saw the injection of new blood in what many now describe as the ‘YANG Three government’. Where Philemon Yang who was appointed in 2009 was having a third group of ministers as close collaborators. October 2, 2015 was therefore a day many former ministers will never forget especially those who claimed to be untouchable. 

Former Foreign Affairs minister, Piere MOUKOU Mbonjo who was preparing to deliver a speech at the United Nations can give a good testimony, how he was prevented from delivering the well prepared speech after the sacking, those who left include: Catherine Mbakang Mbock, Robert NKILI, Louis BAPES BAPES, ESSIMI Menye, Emmanuel BONDE, AMA Tutu MUNA, Adoum GAROUA, Jean Pierre BIYITI BI ESSAM, Pierre MOUKOKO Mbonjo and Pierre TITI. The following ministers were appointed new into government while others had a swap from one ministry to another: Minister for the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence Mr. Joseph Beti Assomo

Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic, in charge of Higher State Control Mrs. Mbah Acha born Fomundam Rose

Minister of Social Affairs Ms. Nguene born Pauline Irene KENDECK

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Henry Eyebe Ayissi

Minister of Arts and Culture Mr. Jean Narcisse Mouelle Kombi

Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Planning Mr. Louis Paul Motaze

Minister of Secondary Education Mr. Jean Ernest Ngalle Bibehe Massena

Minister of Youth and Civic Education Mr. Mounouna Foutsou

Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development Mr. Boubou Hernest Ngoua

Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Ms. Li Libom Likeng born Mendomo Minette

Minister of External Relations Mr Lejeune Mbella Mbella

Minister of Sports and Physical Education Mr. Pierre Ishmael Bidoung Mkpatt

Minister of Transport Mr. Edgar Alain Mebe Ngo'o

Minister for Public Works Mr. Nganou Djoumessi

Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance Mr. Elung Paul Che

State Secretary to the Minister of Education in charge of Secondary Education Standard Mr. Boniface Bayaola

State Secretary to the Minister of Public Works Roads Officer Mr. Louis-Max Ayina Ohandja

Cameroon Concord is however interested in actions of some ministers who have distinguished themselves in line of duty as well as those ministries that have flopped. The October 2, 2015 government has been described as one of the youngest which Mr Biya has ever included in his team. Some have been working hard trying to match words with actions of their master, Paul Biya, who preached rigor, integrity and moralization. Jean Ernest MASSENA NGALE BIBEHE, the only man from the private sector catapulted to the ministry of secondary education.

He began by asking schools to regulate the number of students per classroom to avoid congestion; he summoned 369 teachers who reportedly faked their transfer certificates to juicy schools. He fired some Directors who were suspected to be main brains behind transfer scandals in the ministry. He also suspended the annual regional transfer of teachers where regional delegates had taken the exercise as a money making event. The new secondary education boss also made unprecedented transfer of sit tight principals who had transformed their schools into private residence. Observers however hold that the dexterity of Jean Ernest BIBEHE will be short-lived because corruption is a cankerworm found deep into the bones of Cameroonians. Another government minister who has proven that action speaks louder than words is former littoral regional governor now Defense boss, Joseph BETI ASSOMO.

He was seen with the defense forces on New Year eve, eating a common meal with soldiers at war front. He quickly solved the problem of Cameroon peace keepers from the Central African Republic but promised them severe sanctions if such an action such as protesting on streets for unpaid dues, repeats itself again. Many see in Joseph BETI ASSOMO a square peg in a square hole. Narcisse MUELLE KOMBI inherited the ministry of Arts and Culture which has always been in the headlines at the time of AMA TUTU MUNA. The new MINAC boss has been struggling to shift attention from music to other sectors in his ministry insisting that music alone is not synonymous to Arts and Culture. Several sackings have been witnessed under Edgar Alain MEBE NGO as transport minister. The Cameroon Ports Authority, PAD, Cameroon Airlines Corporation, CamairCo, the Civil Aviation Authority have all had changes.

The new transport boss has been struggling to solve the difficult equation that could put CamairCo back on track. The new public works minister, Emmanuel Nganou just fresh from the ministry of Economy started his new job as Public Works minister with warnings on recalcitrant contractors who abandoned their contracts; he also suspended contracts of others. The Public Works minister has announced several rehabilitation works on National roads. The people of Babadjou and Santa in West and North West regions are still waiting on machines to start works on the deplorable state of the road. Ismael BIDOUNG Mpkatt on his part was swap from ministry of Youth and Civic Education to Sports and Physical education. He is remembered as one of the few ministers whose release supersedes a legal decision. He openly backed Fecafoot president TOMBI AROKO SIDIKI in a long standing legal battle with Abdouraman Ahmadou.

It has been a disastrous one year for MAMA Fouda of Public health with several scandals in hospitals and many think that he will be sacked in the next reshuffle. The ‘TANG Three Government’ was supposed to drive Paul Biya’s three years emergency plan to realization ,the government was formed one year after the announcement and they have served for one year, another year is left. Two years on after the three years emergency plan is taking off slowly while other projects are still in drawers. And most of these projects are financed by foreign banks leaving Cameroon to accumulate huge debts.