At the Council of Ministers meeting at the State House yesterday, President Biya gave out clear instructions to government to ensure success.

The Council of Ministers meeting remains one of the major events within the Cameroon governing system. The seriousness that threaded through the faces of members of government who streamed into the State House yesterday tells of the important place this forum occupies in the growth and evolution of the affairs of the nation.

But for those who were unavoidably absent, all members of government; Ministers, Minister Delegates, and Secretaries of State among others answered present. It was the first time newly appointed members of government were participating and as fate would have it, they certainly would have been anxious enough to receive the instructions of the Head of State after the confidence bestowed on them through appointment.

As early as 10 AM, the first Minister, one of the newly appointed, the Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, Ngwaboubou Ernest made his appearance at the Unity Palace. A few minutes after, the rest of ministers came in waves. Even though their arrival at the State House caught much attention, the real event was going to be the arrival of the President at 11 AM and the instructions expected from him.

All went as programmed and two main points made the agenda of the meeting as explained by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang to reporters who waited patiently outside. Within thirty minutes, the Council of Ministers listened to two presentations, one from the Prime Minister on the implementation of the Emergency Plan and the other from the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mpwatt before the final statement of the Head of State.

Key Concerns

President Biya in his statement to the members of government underscored the importance of the Emergency Plan and the two AFCON competitions which to him are a challenge government must overcome. He congratulated the Defence forces for the wonderful effort in securing the national territory against terrorist attacks, stating that the defence of the national territory will remain a priority for the State.

Against the backdrop of the new device adopted by Boko Haram; that of suicide bombings, the Head of State said, he has given to the Defence forces “appropriate directives to adapt to this new form of aggression.” Other issues on which the Head of State hammered include: economic growth which he said is his second priority.

While admitting that the fall in the price of oil could jeopardise the economic efforts under deployment, he however assured that the situation could be reversed if ambitions are executed in the area of energy production, development of mineral resources, construction of roads, modernisation of agriculture and kick starting of second generation industrialisation.

He particularly called on government to work in synergy and to better organise itself and underscored the need to associate Ministers Delegates and Secretaries of State in the process.

Special consideration was given to the Muslim community especially those who went to Mecca for the religious pilgrimage and unfortunately lost their lives in the Hajj stampede that took the lives of over 1400 people. According to the Head of State, information received so far indicates that Cameroon lost 76 compatriots.

He said he had taken special measures by sending a special envoy to the area and giving out assistance to the victims and their families. As a continuation of this sympathy, he announced that today, October 16 has been decreed a “Day of National Mourning.”