Aspirants for the 2025 presidential elections have begun rolling their political agenda. One of them, Prince Michael Ekosso Ngwesse of the United Social Democratic Party, USDP, presented the economic, political and social programme of his party last Thursday to journalists at a press conference. Prince Ekosso who is advocating for 2 federal states says he would ensure that the Anglo-Saxon and Francophone systems we inherited are managed in a way that each system is respected. Concerning education, he said priority will be given to technical education to promote self-employment and industrialization of the economy. He regrets that Cameroon’s centralized system accounts for slow economic growth, promising to digitize the system for transparency. He begins by explaining why he joined politics. Excerpts:
One of the reasons accounting for why I embarked in politics is because I wanted to have a hand in what is happening in our country. It’s been years that our country has been drowning in difficulties and in mismanagement. I got into politics because I have ideas and the competences to help the country survive. What I want is a stable country, a country of security and prosperity. A country where Cameroonians especially the youths are engaged in activities that give profits to their daily lives. And that give the possibility for each Cameroonian to be proud of being one.
Being an opposition party, you certainly have some criticisms as to how the country is presently ruled. How do you perceive the ruling government?
Everything isn’t going on well in the country. We are all aware that even football that was one of the pillars of motivations to Cameroonians is being shattered with the different disagreements between the president of Fecafoot, the coach and Minsep. I am just giving an example of what is not going on well in the country. Added to that we have social, political and economic instability. We cannot say that Cameroon is stable because we have the crisis in the NOSO. Children are unable to start school because the separatists say school shouldn’t start. In the North we have Boko Haram. All these wars are taking money that was to be invested in the economy so that we have an access to potable water, to good roads amongst many.
The Grand Natioinal Dialogue didn’t bear any fruits. We do not know how that event impacted the notion of dialogue. If that dialogue was effective why is it that up to now children are unable to go to school. If we say we are Cameroonians and we are ready to have a stable Cameroon and prosperous one, we should be able to have the possibility and sincerity to look at each other and say what is not going on well. If we are unable to do so, it means we aren’t ready for the construction of our country. We have to ask ourselves how these problems should be solved and how we can solve it.
As the leader of the United Social Democratic Party, what is your vision for Cameroon in 2025? And what are the main objectives of your party’s project?
During this period, I am going to let Cameroonians know that there is a young Cameroonian called Prince Ekosso who for a while now has been in the political party called United Social Democratic party. And in this party my project for the society is to make sure Cameroonians have a holistic thinking in such a way that we surpass the stage where we think that we are Bamilekes, Ewondos, Bassa. We need to look at ourselves as a nation where we have 2 major systems.
That is the Anglo-Saxon and Francophone systems. It is these systems that we inherited and which influenced our daily lives. These systems are supposed to be managed in a way that each system is respected. That is why it is said that “one nation, two systems, within the context of a federal constitution.” In 1961, we had a federal system in Cameroon which worked out very successfully which gave the impression that Cameroon was on the road to emergence. Why then in 1972, was it cancelled. It is the cancellation of that federal state that accounts for the crisis we are facing in the NOSO. When a system is false, it is false and I think our system is false. We need to do a revision of the system and it is what we are proposing. One nation, two systems within the context of a federal constitution. We are sure that each region will have the possibility to be autonomous in everything be it the economic, political or educational domains.
What is your view on the Cameroon economy? What do you propose to ameliorate it?
Our economy is a freedom economy. Everyone does what he wants, no accountability, no traceability. We get fake documents from the presidency. We are in a system where everyone does what pleases him.
To have a good economy is to have a system of accountability. Those in power should always give a report to the population from time to time to show what they are doing. We have heard rumors of ministers and personalities having double nationalities. The economy is suffering. A minister is in a sector for 21 years yet we see no impact on the population and their daily activities. All this because there is no accountability. We are going to digitalize our system and give it transparency. The reason why things are so slow in Cameroon is because the system is so centralized. To have a passport, you leave Ngaoundere to Yaounde, to have an identity card, you leave Ngaoundere to Yaounde. This centralized system is stopping the growth of Cameroon. We cannot talk of decentralization when the mayor in Buea cannot execute a project without seeking finance from Yaounde.
With the persistent security problems prevailing, how do you plan to ensure security and stability in Cameroon?
It is important to tackle it from two perspectives. We have a moral stability first. Are Cameroonians stable in their thinking? For that to happen, Cameroonians are supposed to trust their leaders. Do they trust their leaders? Secondly, Cameroonians should believe in themselves. Do they believe in themselves. To construct a society isn’t magic. It’s an accordance with the society. If we don’t have stability at this level, then there’s a big problem before coming to the crisis. To have stability, we need to manage the thinking of Cameroonians, their behaviors and the way Cameroonians perceive leadership. We need to change their perspective so that they have a moral stability and it is then that the physical stability would be solved.
Our country is a common responsibility and I call on all Cameroonians especially those in the diaspora so we can all work hand in glove in the construction of our country. We have the capacities and responsibilities. The natural and human resources are there and if we have the willingness, it shall lead to a common good for our country.
What added value can the USDP give to education in Cameroon?
Priority will be given to technical education to promote self-employment and industrialization of the economy. This would bring an end to the public service mentality that is presently draining the state.
Technical education is becoming increasingly important in today’s economy as technology continues to advance and industries become more complex. Technical education provides individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to work in specific fields and industries, which can lead to immediate employment opportunities and higher earning potential. It also plays a vital role in driving economic growth and development, bridging the skills gap in the workforce, and empowering individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.
What is USDP proposing as health policy?
In the health sector USDP will ensure a health insurance policy for all Cameroonians to help the poor. It will provide health facilities with every federal region taking care of its health structures and services, education, and transportation systems to promote development. Technology is transforming how health care is delivered in Africa, giving more people in remote areas there and around the world access to better care. Likewise, easier access to data helps both doctors and policymakers make better-informed decisions about how to continue to improve the system.
The health care professionals on the ground know their frustrations firsthand with counterfeit pharmaceuticals, with sweltering medical clinics limping along without the much needed medical equipment. It is against this backdrop that USDP hopes enough investment will be carried out in providing health infrastructure equipped with adequate technology.
