Continental distinction:

AlamineMey voted African finance minister of the year!

He was awarded the honorific distinction on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 in Lusaka – Zambia, during a gala occasion that spiced the 10th edition of the annual assembly of the ADB which held from 23 to 27 May, and which he attended in his capacity as Cameroon’s minister of finance.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Y’de with agency reports

Minister of Finance, 

AlamineOusmaneMey

Not the least was known about AlamineOusmaneMey within public service circles in Cameroon before December 2011 when President Paul Biya appointed him minister of Finance in his 32nd government. Prior to his appointment, the illustrious son of Logone and Chari division of the Far North region was the general manager of Afriland First Bank. However, no sooner did he occupy the driver’s seat of MINFI than he began performing marvels to salvage the ministry and Cameroon’s economy as a whole. His extraordinary performances have been quick to catch the eyes of not only his fellow countrymen but also foreigners.

                Reason why barely four and a half years later, the African Banker Magazine, under the patronage of the African Development Bank, ADB, honoured him with the African Banker of the Year Award.

                The Award was conferred on AlamineMey on Wednesday, 25 May 2016 in Lusaka – Zambia during a gala occasion that spiced the 10th edition of the annual assembly of the ADB which held from 23 to 27 May. At the 9th edition of the event, the Rwandan minister of Finance, ClaverGatete, won the prize.

                According to the ADB, these Awards, which compensate deserving bankers and banks, “distinguish decision makers and institutions that make the most contribution in reforming and modernizing the banking and financial sector in Africa, and in developing the African economy.” The prizes are open to all African financial institutions including banks, microfinance institutions, investment banks, financial development institutions, and other financial service institutions.

                The Median has been informed that Cameroon’s Finance minister was going to take part in the annual assembly without any prior knowledge of the horrific distinction he was to return to Yaounde with. He is thus reaping the fruit of the country’s resilience in 2015 which he piloted. In spite of the war against the Nigerian Islamist sect, Boko Haram, and the fall in the prices of oil in the world market, the country has been able to maintain a progressive macroeconomic situation. The growth rate is estimated at 5.9% in an Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) zone whose Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth has plummeted to 2.8%.

                There is no question that Cameroon owes this ongoing growth of its economy to the untiring efforts of the ministry of Finance which has mobilized non-petroleum budget revenues beyond expectation. For instance, despite the fact that the fiscal revenue forecast for 2015 was 1 403 billion FCFA, the Directorate General of Taxes was able to raise 1 540 FCFA, signifying an increase of 147 billion CFCA. The customs sector has been doing same and even more over the past years.

                The Finance minister has also been compensated for the stability of the banking sector in Cameroon and the offensives of the government on financial markets even though the first experience of the country’s ratings at the international level as far as the treasury bonds are concerned was not very favourable.

                Fifty years, they say, is the age of maturity. Therefore Alamine has reached the most fully developed stage of his life given that he was born on 26 February 1966. This, perhaps, is why the former student of the Technical University of Rhenanie in North-Westphalie, Germany is making admirably awesome strides in propelling Cameroon towards emergence by 2035.  

                The Median salutes his courage and expertise and wishes him well as he savours the accompaniment of his great Award.