Cameroon’s Roving Ambassador at the Presidency of the Republic, Jean Keutcha, has passed on. The elder statesman, who was born around 1923 in Bazou near Bangangté, Nde Division of the West Region, died on April 1, 2012 at the Yaounde General Hospital, family sources confirmed to Cameroon Tribune on April 3, 2012.
At the deceased’s residence at Hippodrome, Yaounde, it was gloom as sympathisers consoled family members. Family sources explained that because Jean Keutcha was Roving Ambassador, only the Presidency is supposed to release information about his death and funeral arrangements. As such, the family was still awaiting an official announcement from the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency before commenting on the death or giving out information about their late father.
Jean Keutcha served the country in many capacities. After training as a Tropical Agriculture Engineer, he later became an administrator, serving as one of the first African Senior Divisional Officers in the then Bamileke Region. In the early 1960’s, he was appointed into the first government as Secretary of State for Public Works and Education in East Cameroon. Jean Keutcha as from January 23, 1971 to July 3, 1972, served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Federal government.
He was credited for establishing diplomatic links with many countries. He again was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the unitary government on November 8, 1978 and was replaced on July 7, 1980. He also served as Minister of Agriculture. His diplomatic prowess took him to China in 1985 as Ambassador. He also occupied the post of Ambassador to the Benelux countries.
On retirement, Jean Keutcha was appointed Roving Ambassador, a position he occupied till his death on April 1, 2012. Late Jean Keutcha was husband to the first female parliamentarian in the country, Julienne Keutcha, who died in the 1990s. She entered parliament on April 10, 1960 in the East Cameroons.
Family sources said besides rendering service to the nation, Jean Keutcha also took time off to write. He has authored three books and was working on another before dying. Jean Keutcha was Cameroon’s Roving Ambassador at the Presidency alongside Joseph Charles Ndoumba and Roger Milla.
