Revisiting Rigour & Moralisation: Reforms Cameroon desperately needs.

Many citizens who voted in this election did so not out of conviction, but out of desperation for change. The verdict from the ballot box may have been politically predictable, yet it was also a cry of protest from a people yearning for transformation.

Political observers note that for too long, Cameroonians have endured poor governance from some ministers and senior officials in a government that appears increasingly disconnected from the daily realities of its citizens. 

The arrogance of certain members of the ruling class, coupled with widespread corruption and the embezzlement of public funds, has deepened the sense of injustice across the nation.

It is now an open secret that many civil servants, entrusted with serving the nation, have become richer than genuine businesspeople and entrepreneurs. President Paul Biya himself, in one of his end-of-year addresses, condemned such conduct, describing the perpetrators as “white-collar criminals” who must be brought to book. Across cities and villages, luxurious mansions worth hundreds of millions of CFA francs rise proudly, owned by individuals whose official salaries could never justify such opulence. 

Some of these proprietors flaunt their ill-gotten wealth with shocking arrogance, while the ordinary citizen struggles daily to survive.

This moral decay has eroded public confidence in the state. It is time for President Paul Biya to once again take up the baton of Operation Épervier, turn a new page, and embark on genuine reforms that reflect the aspirations of the people.

The fight against corruption must no longer be reduced to political slogans; it must become a national priority, pursued with courage and without compromise.

Those who cannot justify their wealth should be held accountable. The stolen resources of the nation must be recovered and returned to the public treasury. Accountability must replace impunity, and justice must prevail over privilege.

To achieve this, political observers suggest that President Biya appoint a new team one made up of young, dynamic, and competent Cameroonians, both men and women, capable of driving reform with integrity and patriotism. Some of the same old faces that have occupied government positions for decades have clearly run out of ideas. 

Their continued presence risk provoking public anger and further undermine confidence in leadership.

Moreover, Article 66 of the Constitution, which requires public officials to declare their assets before and after holding office, must finally be implemented. For too long, this provision has remained a mere formality, a sleeping clause that mocks the very idea of accountability. 

Enforcing it would mark a powerful step toward transparency and the restoration of trust between the government and the governed.

Cameroon stands today at a defining moment. 

His Excellency President Paul Biya has yet another chance to reshape his legacy, not by the length of his stay in power, but by the depth of his reforms and the impact of his leadership on the daily lives of citizens.

If His Excellency President Paul Biya chooses integrity over indulgence, justice over favoritism, and action over rhetoric, he will certainly restore hope in a nation that desperately needs it. 

The people of Cameroon deserve a government that listens, serves, and protects, not one that enriches itself at their expense.

A true government should be made up of servants in the real sense of the word “Minister.” The time for real reform is now. President Biya has everything it takes to make this happen. 

He could begin by reactivating his historic policy of “Rigor and Moralization,” which marked the start of his leadership in 1982.

Nyoh Moses Esq. LLB (Hons) MSC Mass Com. DSSTIC,
is Editorialist, Media Communication Consultant/Regulation & Compliance Analyst/Environmental Justice Specialist. He is Knight of Cameroon Order of Valour, World Bank Institute Award Winning Journalist 2003. Tel: 00237696669393/+7034735332 whatsapp: +17034735332 Email: nyohmos@yahoo.com