APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARIES GENERAL

By Tikum Mbah Azonga

The post of secretary general is a significant one in Cameroonian administration. We find secretaries general in ministerial departments, governors` offices and universities, to name those. Even so, the phenomenon is not a Cameroonian invention. That is why we also had them at the Organization of African Unity (OAU) at the time of that organization, and today, the African Union (AU). We also find the portfolio at the United Nations.

Nonetheless, the focus of the present political commentary is the recent appointments by the President of the Republic, of secretaries general in ministerial departments. Holders of the portfolio play a key role in the running of government ministries. In a ministry that has a Secretary of State, the Secretary General is third in command, after the Minister and the Secretary of State respectively. This is the case with ministries such as the Ministry of Basic Education, the Ministry of Secondary Education and the Ministry of Finance. In ministries where there is no Secretary of State, the Secretary General is automatically next in command to the minister. Such is the case with the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, the Ministry of the Arts and Culture, the Ministry of Communication, and the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure Activities, to name those.

The recent appointment of Secretaries General affects a total of 18 ministries. Among these are those who have been appointed to that post for the first time. They include Felix Mbayu, a super scale minister plenipotentiary who was acting Secretary General in the Ministry of External Relations, following the appointment of his predecessor, Ngoh Ngoh Ferdinand as Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic in the last cabinet reshuffle. Felix Mbayu has thus been confirmed Secretary General in that ministry.

Other first time appointees comprise Jean Tchoffo, a super scale civil administrator who becomes Secretary General of the newly created Ministry of Public Contracts. Paul Biya created this ministry after it was realized that the Public Contracts Regulatory Board (ARMP) alone could not handle problems concerning the award and execution of public contracts. Tchoffo is a square peg in a square hole because he was one of the think tanks of public contracts who in addition, played an active role in defining what was later to become the Ministry of Public Contracts.

The new Secretary General in the Ministry of Higher Education, Ngomo Horace Manga is an Associate Professor of Applied Chemical Engineering. Thanks to his appointment, Professor Ngomo returns to what may be called his Ministry of origin. Prior to the appointment he was Technical Adviser Number 1 at the Prime Minister`s Office. Ngomo obtained his PhD from the University of Lagos in 1990. The new Secretary General replaces Prof André Mvogo who remains Pro-Chancellor of the University of Bamenda.

One other official who heads her own ministry of origin is Prof. Sinata Koulla-Shiro, a specialist in infectious diseases. Prof. Koulla-Shiro practiced at the Yaounde Central Hospital. She takes over from Prof. Fru Angwafor III who had previously been appointed Director of the Gyneco-Obstetric Hospital in Yaounde.

The Secretary General in the Ministry of Secondary Education is another professor, Paul Gerard Pougoué, an agrégé in law. He takes over from Prof. Ivo Tambo Leke who moves over to the Ministry of Basic Education in the same capacity. Prof Tambo will certainly not feel a stranger in his new ministry because he is an educationist by profession and orientation.

The new Secretary General in the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is Ahmadou Sardaouna, a civil engineer with a PhD in Project Management. Before his appointment, he was Regional Delegate for the same ministry in the Littoral Region. The new post holder in the Ministry of Social Affairs is not just another woman but one who has been appointed to serve under a woman minister, Catherine Bakang Mbock, The Secretary General is Dr. Rosalie Louise Aboutou, a medical doctor with a specialization in ophthalmology.

Other appointees are Mouhtar Ousmane at the Ministry of the Arts and Culture; Nasako Fritz Gerald at State Tenure and Lands; Ebang Mve Urbain Noel at Finance; Ngambo Fondjo Pierre Vincent at the Public Service and Administrative Reform; and Moussa Aoudou at the Ministry in charge of the Promotion of the Woman and the Family.

One significance of the appointments is that they follow a pattern. Not so long ago, President Paul Biya signed another decree appointing regional governors. If logic is any paradigm to go by, then a cabinet reshuffle is to be expected. The reasons are two-fold. Firstly, it would be a logical follow-up to the appointment of secretaries general. The reorganization of some ministries, obviously lends credence to this theory. Secondly, it is very likely that since municipal and legislative elections are just round the corner, the President of the Republic may very well want to pick the crack team he needs in order to secure a victory for himself. All eyes are now on President Paul Biya to see what will be his next move. And the world is watching.

Footnote

This paper was first broadcast on Foundation Radio, FM 100, Ngomgham-Mankon, Bamenda, Republic of Cameroon, on Friday the 21^st of September 2012. Foundation Radio is one of the wings of the Washington-based Fomunyoh Foundation whose CEO is Dr Christopher Fomunyoh.