Charlie Mbonteh
1 August 2005
opinion
Minority refers to a sub group within a bigger group. This sub group usually has common characteristics (language, culture) and has fewer quantitative/qualitative human, material, financial, technical resources compared to the bigger group.
Minorities are usually deprived of access to opportunities, power and other benefits.
They are found the world over and their rights have been protected by United Nations Charters, Millennium Development Goals and the constitutions of individual countries.
In our local context, a minority is the Anglophone (person of West Cameroon origin and who speaks English) while the majority is the Francophone (person of East Cameroon origin and who speaks French).
Since Cameroon has had no census after that of 1987, we can depend on indicative trends that Anglophones constitute 4 million out of about 15 million Cameroonians.
In terms of human resources, it may interest the reader to know that about 50 percent of Ph.D holders in Cameroon are Anglophones.
That out of the total number of Cameroonian medical doctors worldwide, Anglophones constitute a very high percentage.
Despite a superior educational system (tailored after the British education system), Anglophones make up less than 20 percent of a 130,000-civil service, less than 20 percent of trained/ employed teachers; out of about 45 state-owned corporations, less than six Anglophones are General Managers.
To buttress that ours is a superior educational system, visit Sasse, Saker, Sacred Heart and other colleges to see how many Francophone children have embarked on benefiting from Anglophone education.
In terms of material resources, all oil beds (wells) and the refinery are within Anglophone territory even though the staff (direct beneficiaries are Francophones). Foodstuff that feed the Douala population comes from Anglophone farmlands. Anglophones should never accept marginalisation.
In the military, French is the working language. In spheres of corruption, the language is French with use of such words as grand, patron, chef, arranger etc
At Les Brasseries du Cameroun, the language is French and all non-winning beer corks are "essayer encore".
Way Forward
Minorities the world over set the agenda for their recognition. In Cameroon, how much mention is there (and practised) of minorities (Anglophone) in the constitution? Remember that we are a union of two different people.
The minority needs to concert and identify their collective needs/interests. Anglophone leadership must sensitise the population on the real issues.
Minorities must be conscious, sensitive and analytical at all times and at all levels. Anglophone leadership should not pretend and must not sell out for personal gain.
They must bring pressure (in a sustained manner) to bear for constitutional protection of minority rights. When the minority is focused, they always succeed (think of the GCE Board saga).
The Anglophone should employ several strategies to secure their rights including: - boycott Les Brasseries drinks if to make a case for bilingual presentations, resist acceptance of appointments of government officers who do not master English to work in West Cameroon, refuse teachers who reduce the quality of the English language in our schools, monitor appointments and other access to power/resources if to ascertain their quota (know who the bosses in SNEC, Ports Authority, FEICOM, CNPS, SIC, CIMENCAM, CENEEMAA, SCDP, Phone Regulation, Grande M, Price Stabilisation, BAC Board, Credit Lyonnnais, or in terms of CRTV Stations, who manages in Extreme North, North, Center, West, Northwest, Douala FM; put national integration to the test if it does not protect the aspirations of Anglophones, increase collaboration between Southwest and Northwest to protect self and institute workshops for confidence building to reduce misgivings between Buea and Bamenda.
The harmonised criminal procedure law will soon serve the basis for several Francophone Magistrates and State Counsels to flood West Cameroon and further increase Anglophone marginalisation.
Minorities have never lost the fight for their rights because such rights are universal and inalienable. Think of Blacks in America (early 60's) think of Ireland, think of Eritrea, think of Sudan (Darfour) and why not Anglophones?
Do not be contented with your personal or family fortunes within this current set-up. Think collective, think futuristic and make corrections for a firm, just and protected foundation by advocating for constitutional reforms as soon as possible. Keep the faith for the truth can only be delayed and never denied.
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