Imminent appointments in State corporations: Will Biya touch the untouchables?.

The first of such presidential attempts to streamline operations in public enterprises and corporations was through Ordinance No. 95/003 of August 17, 1995. It laid down guidelines for the functioning of public and para-public entities.

Still in pursuance of accountability and governance within such structures, there was Law No. 99/016 of December 22, 1999. The law also established general status for such entities with the clause of a three-year renewable term for managers and their deputies.

The 1999 changes were part of the broader structural adjustment of several government undertakings. 

After 18 years, government again revised the law in 2017, in the face of pressure from especially international funding bodies to get such organisations return to profitable and viable ways.

This is the substance of Law No. 2017/011 governing public corporations and Law No. 2017/010 governing public establishments which President Paul Biya enacted on July 12, 2017.

Going by the laws which text of application are said to have seen the light of day only in 2019, General Managers, GMs, and Directors General, DGs, alongside their deputies have mandates of three years renewable twice.

By that provision, no GM or DG, including their assistants, where such exist is supposed to serve for more than nine years. This implies that even persons who were appointed in 2017, are supposed to be preparing to quit this 2026.

Given the reform journey, 31 years on, Biya, records show, has not been consistent with what the laws repealed and those still in force say. 

Analysts say the Head of State has rather been selective in his application of the law, appointing GMs and DGs, while at the same time allowing others to stay on as untouchables for decades.

Records indicate that there are some DGs and GMs, alongside their deputies who predate the changes that have taken place under the Biya regime to improve the functioning of such enterprises and corporations. 

Critics and observers alike have for years cried out against what they observe as sheer negligence or inertia in the President’s handling of how long some compatriots stay at the helm of certain public companies.

Biya breaks silence at last 

When Biya addressed the youth on the eve of the 60th Youth Day on February 10, 2026, he delved into the issue of DGs and GMs, signaling what could be a tsunami loading. 

Biya, seemingly acting based on the underlying message from his score in the October 12, 2025 presidential election that dropped to 53.66% and his promise to empower women and young people, said he is ready to exploit opportunities in State enterprises by replacing some GMs.

On his repeated resolve to raise the quota of women and youth in leadership, Biya was blunt for the first time in his leadership that “various opportunities come to my mind in this regard, including upcoming reshuffle of managers of State corporations…”.

Will Biya retire the untouchables?

The Presidential declaration has further ignited debates around what could happen if Biya acts on his February 10, 2026 promise.

Given that in the last 40 years, he has left some women and men stay on as either DGs or GMs for over 37 and 20 years respectively, while others have been sent packing, many are questioning if this is the season for the clean sweep.

Those who are taking Biya’s Youth Day eve declaration with a pinch of salt are further asking if is he really ready to replace DGs and GMs who have all along been treated as the untouchables at the helm of some public structures.

When the truth looks like a lie

The task ahead of President Biya in appointing new DGs and GMs and their deputies, pundits say, is herculean, especially given the many persons who have stayed long on the same positions. 

For those who don’t understand the complexities and extremist happenings in the Cameroonian setting, the number of years some persons have lorded over entities, sound like a lie whereas it is the truth. 

In a country seeking to emerge in under nine years from now, critics say the long stay of such persons at the helm of some State corporations has further entrenched inertia. 

This, some are saying, is why the slightest thought of change coming is seen as wrongdoing, even now that Biya has signaled.

The world of untouchables 

In the world of those whom observers say are untouchable DGs and GMs are; Tiati A Ngae. He has been Director General, DG, of the Aerial Agricultural Treatment Unit with French acronym UTAVA, since 1989. 

This year marks him 37 years at the helm of the institution, placed under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, MINADER.

There is Adolphe Moudiki, the all-powerful Executive General Manager of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, SNH, since 1993.  He is in his 33rd year in the same position. 

The Director General of the Rural Electrification Agency, Ousmanou Moussa, has been on the same spot for 26 years. Biya appointed him in the year 2000.

The DG of the National Employment Fund, NEF, Camille Moute à Bidias, has been there for 36 uninterrupted years! Biya appointed him in 1990. 

At the Cameroon News and Publishing Corporation, SOPECAM, it is the 24th continuous year for Marie-Claire Nnana, who has been GM since 2002. 

On the same scale is Essame Oyono Jean Louis, appointed DG of the Institute of Medical and Plant Research, IMPM, 24 years ago.

Joseph Tedou of the National Institute of Statistics, NIS, is in his 21st year as DG. 

At the Central Bureau of Census and Population Studies, BUCREP, Bernadette Françoise Mbarga, has been DG for 24 years. Auguste Mbappe Penda has manned the Cameroon Shippers Council for 20 years running. 

At the National Investment Corporation, SNI, Yaou Aissatou, a leading voice within Biya’s CPDM, has been the head girl at the said institution for 23 years running. 

The Mission for Studies and Development of the North Region, MEADEN, has had at its helm Abdoulaye Serno, since 2006. 

Hubert Mbamba is the man calling the shots at the Mission for Studies and Development of the Ocean Division, MEAO, since the year 2000. 

Thomas Owono Assoumou is still calling the shots at the Cameroon Airports Corporation, ADC, 17 years on. 

Alain Noël Olivier Mekulu Mvondo, DG, of the National Social Insurance Fund, CNPS, is in his 18th year. 

Dr Théodore Nsangou of the Electricity Development Corporation, EDC, is in his 17th year since being appointed in 2009. Augustin Simo has been calling the shots at the National Radioprotection Agency since 2010.

Chief Mokwe Edward Misime has been GM for 16 years at the Higher Institute of Public Management.

Alexandre Marie Yomo, has been heading the National Civil Status Registration Office, BUNEC, since 2015; Jean Marie Louis Badga of the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Promotion Agency, SMEPA, has been there since 2014.

Manon Christol Georges is into his 14th year as DG of MAGZI, just like Joseph Ngo of the Public Contracts Regulatory Agency, ARMP.

Christophe Mien Zok of the Yaounde Conference Centre is in his 13th year. Mboudou Emile Télesphore at the Douala Gyneco-Obstetric and Pediatric Hospital is into her 12th year as DG. Messi Marie Rose is clocking 13th at the Cameroon Debt Recovery Corporation.

Franklin Ngoni Njie, is in his 13th year as General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC.

The National Electricity Transportation Company, SONATREL, has known only Victor Mbemi Nyaknga, as DG, since its creation in 2015. 

Another person on the same spot for 15 years is Woïn Noé, DG of the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development, IRAD.

Théophile Bekolo Bekolo has been heading the National Forestry Development Agency, ANAFOR, is in the 16th year as DG. 

Mission for the Development of Small-scale and Maritime Fisheries, MIDEPECAM, has been under the control of Tambi Sammy Ako for 14 years running. 

So too is Manga Louis Roger at the Urban and Rural Lands Development and Equipment Authority, MAETUR.

At the Applied Research, Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproduction Hospital Centre, CHRACERH, Prof Jean Marie Kasia, is into his 12th year.

Martin Mbotta Elimbi has been at the helm of the National Institute of Cartography for the 16th year running. 

Missi Jean Paul is clocking 14 years at the Cameroon Housing Loan Fund popularly known as Credit Foncier. Alain Malong is on year 18 at the Cameroon Aluminium Company, ALUCAM.

At the National Drug Quality Control and Valuation Laboratory, LANACOME, Dr Ngono Mballa Rose Epse Abondo, is counting year 11th as DG. 

At the Mission for the Regulation of Supply of Consumer Goods with French language acronym, MIRAP, Cyprien Bamzok Ntol, is on the 15th year as DG. 

Frédéric Biya Motto is also within the same time bracket at the helm of the Mekin Hydroelectric Development Corporation. If Booto à Ngon did not die on December 29, 2024, he would have been clocking 14 years as DG of the Standards and Quality Agency, ANOR.

GMs clocking 10 years

At the Cameron Radio Television, CRTV, Charles Ndongo, affectionately described as Biya’s journalist, is in his 10th year as DG. The same holds for Kaldadak Pierre, who has been DG of the Cameroon Postal Services, since 2016. 

The Animal Production, Development and Exploitation Company, SODEPA, has also known Denis Koullagna Koutou as DG for 10 years and still counting. 

The same goes for Cyrus Ngo’o at the Port Authority of Douala, PAD, and Dr Etah Collins Ayuk of the Limbe Nautical Arts and Fisheries Institute.

Bayero Mohamadou Bounou of the Cotton Development Corporation, SODECOTON, is clocking a decade as GM, same as Patrice Melom of the Port Authority of Kirbi.

Those in their 9th year

Libiky Boubakar, DG of the Local Materials Promotion Agency, MIPROMALO; Okie Johnson Ndoh of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stablisation Fund, CSPH; and Ebah Abada Edouard of CICAM. They were all appointed in 2017, and are now in their 9th and final year if the law is to be respected. 

Eric Akongnui Andangfung has also been DG of the Upper Noun Development Valley, UNVDA, since 2017.

Others who are also clocking the nine-year maximum mandate are; Prof Philemon Zoo Zame of the Telecommunication Regulatory Board, ART and Moufo Jean of the National Civil Engineering Laboratory, LOBOGENIE.

Forgotten long serving deputy DGs, GMs

There are also Deputy GMs and DGs whom, it is being said, have also been forgotten in their positions. Some of these are; Bruno Njombe Ewusi for 24 years now at ANAFOR.

Moukoko Njoh Michaux is clocking 14 at PAD. Younouss Soungui is clocking 20 years as assistant DG at the Cameroon Shippers Council.

Minlaa Mengue Ruben is on the 11th year at SONATREL. Emmanuel Pohowe is on the 9th year at CICAM while Wongibe Emmanuel is counting 10 at CRTV. Shey Peter Mabu takes the bar to year 24 at SOPECAM.

Nana Yomba is clocking 14 years at CAMPOST while Jean Calvin Tchonog is hitting same at Credit Foncier as Deputy DG. Ondoa Onana Ambroise is on the 36th year at SNI.

It is the 13th year for Yossa Bernard at the debt recovery corporation. It is 43 years for Nyonse Robert at the, Yagoua Rice Expansion and Modernisation Company, SEMRY.

Kendem John Forghab is clocking 12 years at the Autonomous Sinking Fund, CAA. Joseph Guy She Etoundi is on his 21st year as deputy head of NIS. 

Abdoulaye Oumarou Dalil, is on the 26th year at BUCREP; Tom Agbor Egbe is on 24th year at IMPM; Zourmba Aboubakar is clocking 27 at ART; Demenou Tapamo Honoré is on 26th year at ARSEL same as Jean Jacques Ledru at the Rural Electrification Agency.

Mabiom Akobord Christophe is on year 20 at MAGZI. Dr Charles Nsom Mba is on year 14 at the Yaounde Gyneco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital. With the same number of years are; Noundjeu Faustin Clovis at the Cameroon Housing Corporation and Mbong Michael Mbine at MAETUR who died a few weeks ago.

Chantal Andely née Ndomo Ndongo though interim DG of ANOR is in her 16th year. 

All eyes, pundits are declaring, are now on Biya, whom his cronies have continued to hail as the one Cameroonian who knows every detail about the country to keep his word. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3707 of Wednesday February 18, 2026