Emmanuel Tataw
22 July 2005
The Prime Minister and Head of Government, Ephraim Inoni and a high level delegation returned home yesterday after a visit to the United States of America. Accompanied by his wife, Gladys Inoni, the delegation included members of government and other personalities in national structures of governance, human rights, elections observatory and the Chamber of Commerce. Among the Members of government was Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Marafa Hamidou Yaya.
As the nation's principal personality in the electoral procedure, Marafa Hamidou Yaya had the necessary information to dish out on the nature of balloting in Cameroon. Alongside the electoral observatory Vice President, Dr. Diane Acha Mofor, the nation's electoral organiser and observer were vital when it came to explaining the nation's electoral system and its determination to remain free and fair and free from fear. Ministers Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo and Elvis Ngollo Ngolle, respectively in charge of Communication, and Special Duties at the Presidency, are not only University professors in disciplines inextricably linked to political marketing, they are versed with the American environment. At the Department of State and in the meeting with the Cameroonian Community, their role was evident.
Vision
At the economic and Commercial sectors, Minister delegate in the Ministry of the Economy and Finance, Njankouo Lamere Daniel, Secretary of State of Commerce, Ama Tutu Muna and the President of the Chamber of Commerce Claude Juimo Monthe held fort. The PM's explanations of Cameroon's friendly investment environment evidently beefed up the trust of the American corporate sector and the presence of the aforementioned was a plus. Ministers Paul Meoto Njie, the director of Cabinet and Njanou Emmanuel Djoumessi, assistant Secretary General in the Prime Minister's Office were the part of the delegation that kept the agenda on the rails. Barrister Akere Muna, President of the Pan African Lawyer's Union, Dr. Chemuta Banda, President of the Human rights Freedoms Commission and Professor Dieudonné Oyono, Coordinator of the National Governance Programme gave the needed dose of civil society participation in the nation's polity. Their discussions in the Washington D.C. based "Freedom House" helped rectify the existing misconceptions on the quality of human rights and liberty in Cameroon. The functions and credentials of the members of the PM's delegation to the United States are a barometre reading of the importance attached to the execution of President Paul Biya's instructions on projecting the image of a Cameroon that is resolutely engaged in fighting corruption, promoting good governance and economic prosperity.
Beyond the personalities involved in the mission, there was the vision and orientation. President Paul Biya took the oath of office of the current mandate with a resolve to realise great projects. In the oft-quoted "great ambitions", Communication in an increasingly global world is taking the centre stage. The vision and the orientation of the Head of State were transformed to instructions with the installation of the December 8, 2004 government of PM Ephraim Inoni. The trip to the United States therefore is in harmony with this vision of the Chief Executive. In diverse meetings with the American business Community, the National Security Adviser, the Secretary of State and the Cameroonian Community, outstanding misconceptions were clarified and the right information was delivered to the right quarters. Progress on the ground was visible eliciting encouragements from strategic partners. In the economic sphere, the Corporate Council on Africa led by its Chair, Stephen Hayes was told of the enabling investment environment with reforms in the judiciary and attractive labour and tax codes. The potentials in Cameroon in both human and natural resources, the peace and stability and the leadership of President Paul Biya were all seen to be vectors of economic trust.
Partnership
With the Cameroonian Compatriots, the Prime Minister was practical and pedagogic. Cameroon, he said, "is a collective heritage" and all hands have to be on deck in the efforts of development. He understands that Compatriots in the Diaspora are useful and vital for economic development and he strove to inform them of the prevailing changes at home. In a question and answer session, all misconceptions were cleared away and in their place, a new partnership for development was born. After the meeting and in the two days following, the PM received numerous cultural and social groups, including the CPDM officials in Washington D.C. The doors of the PM's apartment in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Complex were literally flung open for all who sought audience. The message to all was the same "Solidarity and Patriotism" in the collective endeavours to build a strong and prosperous nation under the leadership and vision of President Paul Biya. Judging from the results of this visit, which from all perspectives are largely positive, it will be necessary to extend this to other strategic partners. It will also be necessary to constantly maintain the lines of Communication with all the partners for nature abhors a vacuum.
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