This article is part of a series assessing the influence of Power 237, a book published in January 2025, on the social projects of the twelve candidates in Cameroon’s presidential election held on 12 October 2025. Based on the analytical framework of the African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI) — the hard, soft and smart power triptych — this impartial analysis explores how deeply the power strategy proposed by Dr Guy Gweth, for the period 2025 to 2050, shaped each candidate’s policy proposals. Following alphabetical order, this piece focuses on Akere Muna and his vision for a sovereign and inclusive Cameroon.
Priority to Local Development and Revitalisation of Councils
Akere Muna’s programme placed social and territorial urgency at the heart of his action plan. His proposal to assess the immediate needs of the country’s 360 councils and to mobilise the required human and financial resources to address basic necessities — clean water, functional schools, primary healthcare, road infrastructure, and civil registration services — directly echoed the hard power levers identified in Power 237. Security, access to essential services, and territorial cohesion are, according to the book, indispensable foundations of national power.
Dual Nationality and Civic Cohesion
Akere Muna also proposed immediate action to facilitate mobility for Cameroonians living abroad, pending legislative reform on dual nationality. This measure reflected a pragmatic soft power approach, valuing human capital and the diaspora as vectors of influence and development. It aligned with the arguments of Power 237, which emphasised the importance of inclusive citizenship and Cameroon’s international standing.
Transparency and State Audit: A Pillar of Sovereignty
The proposal for an independent and comprehensive audit of public finances, including state-owned enterprises, demonstrated the alignment between Akere Muna’s programme and the smart power vision of Power 237. By promoting financial transparency, the candidate aimed to enable an accurate assessment of national resources, design realistic economic reforms, and establish a credible development plan. The book underscored that no lasting power can emerge without clear and accountable governance.
Inclusive Dialogue and Crisis Resolution
The programme placed strong emphasis on a genuine national dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of the conflict in the North-West and South-West regions, as well as other areas in distress. This strategic orientation converged with the soft power dimension of Power 237, which advocated social cohesion, historical reconciliation, and inclusion as the bedrock of national stability.
Institutional Reforms and Modernised Governance
Finally, Akere Muna’s programme advocated strengthening democracy and governance through institutional reforms designed to ensure the separation of powers, broaden civic space, and empower the private sector. This approach illustrated the integration of smart power principles from the book, combining institutional innovation and economic development to build a more resilient and competitive Cameroon.
Conclusion
The comparative analysis revealed that Akere Muna’s programme showed a strong thematic and structural convergence with the theses of Power 237. From social urgency to inclusive dialogue, through financial transparency and institutional modernisation, his platform reflected an appropriation of strategic power concepts and confirmed the book’s tangible influence on the formulation of Cameroon’s development policies.
Editorial Team
