You have undertaken the inclusive national consultation “building Cameroon’s commercial power strategy 2025-2035” with actors in economic development. How can we define the interest and relevance of such a program in the current Cameroonian economy marked by structural inflation?
Puissance237 or Cameroon’s regional power strategy is important for several reasons. Taking the case of trade, which has brought us together in recent days, Puissance237 aims to reduce our dependence on foreign markets, diversify our economy, increase our negotiating power, strengthen national security, and enhance Cameroon’s image. While structural inflation is a major challenge for our country, it is possible to build a regional power strategy in such a context.
Furthermore, at this stage of the national consultation, the analysis of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI) shows that combating structural inflation requires the adoption of concrete and innovative measures to reduce budget deficits, increase agricultural production, improve the competitiveness of local businesses, invest in infrastructure development and local human capital to stimulate economic growth and boost job creation.
This is evidence that the construction of a regional power strategy must be a participatory and inclusive process, with the ACCI consulting all stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society. Finally, it should be noted that Puissance237 is a long-term project that aims to elevate Cameroon to the top of Africa by 2035, with the understanding that even if we don’t reach the moon, we will at least land upon the stars.
You invited the press on the 16th of January to define the prospects for influence at the African level. What is your opinion of the current press in Cameroon, which is often described as destitute?
If we consider the initial findings of this national consultation regarding the media, I can say without hesitation that the Cameroonian press faces numerous challenges, one of the main ones being the destitution you mentioned. It is a major problem that affects the independence and quality of the disseminated information.
In addition, there is a lack of freedom and professionalism. The lack of professionalism translates into the absence of adequate training of journalists, diligence in information processing, and systematic fact-checking before presenting information to the audience.
We must also consider political interference, which limits press freedom and the right to information. All these factors imply that our media outlets have not fully played their role as the fourth estate and power-check. However, despite these alarming observations, it is clear that Cameroon has many talented, conscientious, and courageous journalists who do important work in providing information and raising awareness on a daily basis. It is these journalists who make our press pivotal to democracy and a lever of power for Cameroon…
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