Cameroon joined member states of the African Union (AU) to celebrate the 19th edition of the African Public Service Day on Sunday June 24, 2013. The theme for this year was "African Public Service in the era of open government: Giving voice to citizens".

In a release, the Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reforms, Michel Ange Angouing used the occasion to reemphasise his vision of the Cameroon public service. According to the Minister, the putting in place of an open public service that gives voice to citizens must operate through the adoption of modern and innovative management practices. He said such an administration must be characterised, among others, by the quality of service rendered to citizens, sharing of ethical moral values, participatory decision-making, attentiveness towards all staff, responsibility towards results and continuous innovation and improvement.

In that perspective, the government has opted for the use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) and has taken global measures notably the decentralisation of the management of state personnel and salaries. It is obvious that the quality of services rendered, quick response of the administration, simplicity in the procedures to follow, the use of the Internet and its means of distance communication to fill a form, all conform to the new exigencies of the users.

Conscious of these priorities, the Cameroon government is working hard to meet the demands with efficiency. Among other things, there is commitment in the reception, notably the improvement of physical and telephone reception of users in the administration. Also, measures have been taken to strengthen electronic administration through the creation of a website in charge of informing and giving access to tele-procedures. In the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms specifically, the ambition to modernise the administration by giving voice to users is done through the putting in place of a computerised information system for users called “Aquarium”.

The instauration of a telephone line permanently open for users, the putting in place and effective exploitation of suggestions boxes, the functioning of the weekly radio programme and the systematic treatment of all inquiries and others correspondences of users, among others, are the manifestations of the modernisation in the ministry. Michel Ange Angouing concluded by saying that these actions should lead to a public service that is modern, efficient, and competitive according to the wish of the Head of State, Paul Biya.