2014 In Retrospect: The Good, The Bad, The Sad

The year 2014 is now history but some salient politico-social, economic, cultural, and religious activities that characterised the year in Cameroon will remain in the minds of many even as they forget the year.

Politics

Though not an election year, the year 2014 in Cameroon was marked by several political activities. While the population of the South West and particularly Fako would remember 2014 as the year the Head of State was in Buea for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of reunification, most Cameroonians would remember 2014 as the year in which parliament adopted the most controversial bills in the history of Cameroon’s legislature. According to the law, the bicameral parliament met in three ordinary sessions; in March, June and November with a total of 21 bills adopted amongst which was the bill on the suppression of acts of terrorism.

Besides the adopted bills, Hon Cavaye Yegui Djibril was elected president of the National Assembly for the 22nd consecutive time while at the senate; Marcel Niat Njifenji was maintained as president of the less than two years old upper house of parliament.

Also in 2014 members of both houses scored good marks for successfully hosting the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference. But the visit of the president of the national assembly of the Ivory Coast, Hon Guillaume K. Sorro last year was a bitter pill for the Social Democratic Front, the SDF.

SDF representatives at the National Assembly staged a walk out of the hemicycle last year in protest when the Ivorian Assembly president took to the rostrum to address his Cameroonian colleagues.

Over at the CPDM Central committee, the year 2014 has gone into history as the year the party of President Paul Biya sanctioned some wayward militants of the party found guilty of electoral indiscipline by the Musonge committee.

While sacked CPDM militants may be licking their wounds, other militants will remember 2014 as the year the party clocked 29 while its chairman and Head of State clocked 32 years as president of the republic of Cameroon. This, at a time the Social Democratic Front celebrated its 24th anniversary.

Political observers will remember 2014 as the year in which renowned civil society activist and former president of the Citizens’ Association for the defense of Collective Interests, ACDIC, Bernard Njonga renounced the civil society and created his own political party; Believe in Cameroon.

Economy

Cameroonians will remember the year 2014 as one in which the government increased the price of fuel and domestic gas. In what observers described as a response to pressure from international bodies, the Cameroon government in 2014 increased the prices of petroleum products. The government explained that the increment will help secure money needed to finance other projects in the country.

While most households are grappling with the domestic gas price increase, civil servants will remember the year 2014 as one in which their salaries witnessed an insignificant 5 per cent increase in a bid to reduce the weight of the contested fuel price increase.

Other accompanying measures included increase in the minimum wage from 28,000 to 36,270 FCFA. After several days of negotiation last year, the Cameroonian government and representatives of employers and workers finally reached consensus for the increase of the national minimum wage by 8.000 Frs.

In spite claims by government of signs of economic growth, it still fell prey to the trappings of poor budget planning, going cap in hand like in preceding years to raise money through the sale of treasury bonds to finance its major projects.

The year also saw the laying of the foundation of the second bridge over River Wouri and the inauguration of the Logbaba gas plant.

Culture

The 2014 cultural year of Cameroon was marked by several activities described by observers as shameful. Artists throughout the year decried marginalization by the state. This was worsened by the tussle between the Ministry of Culture and the Cameroon Musical and Authors Rights Corporation, SOCAM.

After a controversial election as board chair of the Corporation, ace Musician, Ndedi Eyango was kicked out the Minister of Culture for his dual nationality against the law of SOCAM.

While Eyango may be keeping bitter memories of the year, another Cameroonian music star, Simon Longkana Agno alias Longue Longue saw an end to his nightmare as he regained freedom from a French prison 2014.

Yaounde inhabitants and other visitors will remember the year 2014 as one in which the national museum was reopened to the public albeit against payment.

Governance

The year 2014 was marked by the holding of the Council of Ministers meeting by the head of state after three years, putting in place a three years contingency plan to foster economic growth.

President Paul Biya also chaired the Higher judicial council meeting at the Unity Palace after which the long serving president of the supreme court, Justice Alexis Dipanda Mouelle and other got their overdue retirement.

Most Cameroonians remember the outcome of the higher judicial council meeting not just because of the retirement of the Supreme Court officials, but also the surprised appointment of one of Biya’s ardent critic, Justice Ayah Paul as advocate general of the said court.

Still in the sector of governance, Cameroonians will remember the year 2014 as one in which Cameroon gained two places on the corruption perception index of Transparency International. However, the National Anti Corruption Commission, CONAC, failed to present its report on the fight against corruption in Cameroon.

Religion

Cameroonians especially those in Yaounde will remember the year 2014 as one in which Jesus ‘appeared’ in Yaounde. Mrs. Amougui, a Roman Catholic Christian claimed to have seen the face of Jesus Christ in her house in Yaounde. To back their claims of having seen Christ, Mrs. Amougui and her relatives took photos of the image which are on permanent display on a television set in their living room. Her house at Minkan in the outskirt of the city became a pilgrimage site throughout the year 2014.

Christians of the Yaounde Archdiocese in 2014 got a new Arch Bishop, His Lordship Jean Mbarga. After 15 months of vacancy following the resignation of His Lordship Victor Tonye Bakot, the Holy Father last year appointed Jean Mbarga as Arch Bishop of the Yaounde Archdiocese.

As Christians of the Roman Catholic Church remember 2014 as a year in which they got a new Archbishop for the Yaounde, those of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon will certainly remember the year as that in which a non synod clerk, Rev. Fonki Samuel was elected moderator of the PCC. The Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC celebrated also celebrated its 60th anniversary of the independence.

Christians of the Kribi Diocese will remember 2014 as the year God called home their Bishop, Joseph Befe Ateba who was also president of the National Communication council.

Besides the activities of the various denominations, Cameroonians will have in their memories the visit of the Celebrated Gospel musician and preacher, Don Moen.

The Gospel singer pulled more than 6000 people in Cameroon during his three-day concerts organised in Yaounde, Douala and Limbe last year.

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, also elected a new Moderator and Synod Clerk in the persons of Rev Samuel Fonki and Rev Rev Foncham Valentine. This was during the Synod of the PCC that held in Bamenda.

Obituary

The year in Cameroon may not just be remembered for good events. Most Cameroonians remember 2014 as a year in which Cameroon lost several state personalities like Senators Njifua, Nkwain and Jikong all three English speaking members of the upper house of parliament.

Cameroonians will also remember 2014 as the year in which president Biya lost his mother-in-law, Rosette Mboutchuang, mother of Chantal Biya. Perhaps, most Cameroonians may be keeping memories of how the mayor of Bangou was laid to rest in Mvomeka instead of Bangou or Nanga Eboko.

Besides the first lady’s mother, Cameroonians will remember 2014 as the year in which social critique and University Lecturer, Ateba Eyene, died. Other important deaths in 2014 include the former Cameroon Ambassador to the USA, Jerome Mendouga, former Secretary of State for Secondary Education, Catherine Abena, Inspector general at ministry of finance Albert Ndille, Economist and varsity Don Prof Pius Ottou and ace journalist, Anne Nsang died, SCNC Chief Ayamba. Cae Musician, Lapiro de Mbarga also died in the USA.