A quiet debate taking the form of the argument around the egg or the hen continues to make its rounds in the country about who, of President Paul Biya or his ministers or members of the administration, are responsible for what many Cameroonians

consider a lacking performance of public services which many citizens blame for their woes today. Many lay the absence of the inadequacy of basic social infrastructure such as roads, medical services, energy supply and decent housing on President Paul Biya’s doorsteps while many others would rather lay the blame on his collaborators or appointees. It is obviously easy to lay blame on the President on account of the fact that he is the sole duly elected person and into whose hands the people have bequeathed their trust. Granted the President is elected and is responsible before the people; but it is also a fact that the President of the Republic exercises his powers through a number of persons to whom he publicly delegates a portion of his powers. Such persons can be ministers, directors general, managing Directors, Directors as well as personnel of administrative services such as Governors, SDOs, DOs and the like. What do we observe today when there is wanton lack of a public service or utility? The tendency is for the public official to refer to what is perniciously referred to as ‘hierarchy’, a detested word that carries all the germs of inertia and government red tape and which is, to a large extent, responsible for the relative feet-dragging in carrying out essential and, sometimes, life-saving government projects. In his address last Thursday night, the President laid blame squarely on government and the administration for any shortcomings observed in the carrying out of government projects. This was probably the umpteenth call for government to take an achieving posture. But this year’s call has a specific character because of the fact that the nation is resolutely set on the path of attaining economic emergence status by 2035. At this rate and without a violent wake-up call, this objective may not be attained. So, that is why the President of the Republic desires to see a paradigm shift in government attitude which should work henceforth with ore ardour, a greater spirit of inventiveness, and be more results-oriented. There has been too much of a Pontus Pilatus posture by many decision-makers who would rather shift the power to decide to others whereas they were well placed to move things. The President last Thursday restated his resolve to improve the quality of life for ordinary Cameroonians. Many initiatives are in the pipeline, notably in the energy and public transport sectors. But for the effects of these dams, bridges and ports to reach ordinary Cameroonians, the government must work harder or even be seen to be doing so, so that the said projects are effectively completed and contribute to the improvement of the standard of life of all citizens in an inclusive manner.

This new year is setting in barely a few months after a new government was put in place with very specific objectives of jumpstarting a number of face-lifting projects, many of which are underway; so is there a three-year emergency plan underway. These are useful platforms on which government can show its determination to produce the results the President has been talking about and which will set Cameroon confidently on the road to 2035. Government must take this presidential admonishment very seriously because the President publicly told Cameroonians where to apportion blame henceforth.