Inequitable power sharing:

Six Anglophone divisions without ministers!

-They are Fako, Lebialem, Meme, Boyo, Ngoketunjia and Menchum divisions

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

A look at President Paul Biya’s 2 October 2015 government shows that its 70 members (comprising Prime Minister, vice Prime Minister, ministers of state, ministers, ministers delegate, secretaries of state and advisers at the Presidency of the Republic) come from all the ten regions of Cameroon. However, of the 58 divisions of the country, 14 are not represented in the said government, amongst which are Fako, Lebialem and Meme in the South West and Boyo, Ngoketunjia and Menchum in the North West.

                Talking about the details of the regional repartition, the Centre has the lion’s share with 20 ministerial positions while the Far North follows with 10. Next is the West with seven, and then the South (President Biya’s region of origin) with six. The South West, North West, North and East follow with five ministerial positions each; the Littoral with four, and finally the Adamawa with just three.

                As for the divisions, besides those of the South West and North West mentioned above, are eight others which are not represented in government. These are Upper Nkam, Ntem Valley, Djerem, Mbere, Mayo-Rey, Boumba and Ngoko, Faro and Deo, and Mayo-Louti.

                This inequality in the repartition of government positions has raised polemics and discontent in many circles, as many argue that there is supposed to be regional and divisional balance in such repartitions as there is in entrance examinations into public higher institutions of learning in the country.

                However, reacting to this argument, Frederique Mbara, a budding political scientist explained:

                “Don’t mistake administrative competitive exams with appointments in government…Decree n⁰82/407 of 7 September 1982 gives the Minister of Public Service the right to apply quotas. Thus article 2 of arête n⁰10467 modified on 20 August 1992 allocates 5% of places to the Adamawa, 18% to the Far North, 7% to the North, 15% to the Centre, 4% to the East, 4% to the South, 13% to the West, 12% to the Littoral, 12% to the North West and 8% to the South West.

                The most recent text on this issue is decree n⁰2000/696/PM of 13 September 2000 determining the types of competitive exams. In its article 60, it restates the quotas of places reserved for indigenes of each region and gives the Prime Minister the right to determine the quotas.”

                With respect to appointments in government, the political scientist said it all depends on the discretion of the Head of State. “It is through cabinet reshuffles that the Head of State truly exercises his exorbitant discretionary powers. He appoints and dismisses ministers for reasons he alone knows…”