Pressing issues Biya should address in end-of-year speech.

As traditional as it has been, every of such opportunity come with fresh expectations from across the board. It is a moment which even the most common of citizens expect the President to address issues that will have a bearing on their lives throughout the New Year.

Among the plethora of issues waiting for Biya’s comment or perhaps fresh directives, many hope he will talk about the spiraling cost of living and difficult access to basic social services such as water, electricity and healthcare.

Though among the domains with huge investment budgets across the years, President Biya, many a Cameroonian is expecting, should touch on what accounts for the persistent shortage in electricity and water supply.

Many are looking forward to concrete pronouncements on addressing these, especially in the major cities of Douala and Yaounde, plus what government is doing to expand same to the rest of the country.  

In the case of electricity supply, it is more than just an issue. It is a hot potato, observers say, Biya must address, when he mounts the podium on December 31, 2023, to address the nation.

Issues of unsettled debts state corporations and the government owe the electricity supplier, Energy of Cameroon, ENEO, worth billions is key in this sector. 

How government intends to address a repeat of the shameful cuts worsened by ENEO’s partner, Globeleq, that supplies 30 percent of national power consumption through its gas power plants, shutting operation, are also begging for Presidential answers.

Even as the worsened darkness relapsed during this festive period on the strings of government begging and promises, for 2024, Biya, it is being said, should tell the Cameroonian populace and investors in particular, what is being done to arrest the situation.

Rising commodity prices 

Another issue a majority of citizens expect the Head of State to talk about is what will be done in 2024, to arrest the rising cost of living.  

It is no secret that in the last successive years, prices of most basic commodities have remained on the rise, giving many a citizen a dull reading of the country’s future.

Household waste management

Another shambolic show Cameroon witnessed in 2023, which many say must be avoided in 2024, is the issue of household waste management.  In addition to this, is the poor urban road network in major cities such as Yaounde and Bamenda.

With actors having engaged in the blame game syndrome in 2023, over who is supposed to do what to ensure the capital city is up to acceptable standards, Biya, analysts are saying, must rise to the billing and give new directives. 

New policy options amid constant global shocks 

Economists say in as much as Biya will be expected to try to use his speech to galvanise national energy for all to contribute their quota in ensuring resilience amid shocks, he must do so through a convincing narrative of new policy options for 2024.

Still within the economic sphere, the impact of President’s Import Substitution Policy, many say, has barely been felt. 

For 2024, Biya, many say, must as a matter of priority tell citizens what he intends to do to ensure that the policy acts as a real catalyst in boosting local production.  

This, is especially so, in the agricultural sector which remains the backbone of the economy.

Biya is expected to spend time talking about the economy, especially given that the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the Bank of Central African States, BEAC, have projected a difficult economic context for the world in 2024.  

With a global growth rate pegged at 2.9 percent, owing to a decline in one of the country’s international partners, China and other major powers tightening policies, Biya, those who understand current dynamics say, must redirect the citizenry inwards to build on new fronts.

Where is Biya with promise to fight corruption in 2023?

Additionally, the same Biya who promised a new crusade against corruption same time last year, many say, should tell citizens what was done in 2023 and what he intends to do in 2024. 

For one thing, many a citizen say corruption has remained endemic, especially in the public service sector, frustrating Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, SMEs, and killing investors’ confidence in the process. 

It is an issue that is even mindboggling, given that the IMF, which is a major credit partner of Cameroon, in a recent report raised similar concerns.

Persistent fuel shortage, rumoured petroleum price increase

Another issue that has kept citizens on their toes is the pricing and availability of petroleum products.  

The repeated scarcity that hit the country in 2023, many say, is an issue Biya should prioritise to guarantee citizens’ confidence.

Closely linked to it is the persistent rumour of another lurking increase in the price of petroleum products. 

Those who say petroleum products price increase has a bearing on almost all sectors of national life are begging for clarity.

They say President Biya should tell the nation if there is going to be a further reduction in subsidy, resulting in increase in prizes or not.

Mining sector 

When Cameroon entered 2023, President Paul Biya focused his attention on exploiting the goodies the mining sector offers for growth. 

This, he had said, remains paramount amidst a constant decline in revenue from petroleum products.

With the Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, having been running with that vision throughout 2023, Cameroonians are expecting a succinct reading of what is on ground from President Paul Biya.

Where are the airports?

On December 31, 2022, President Biya had talked of: “The rehabilitation and modernisation of the Tiko, Bertoua and Kribi airports will also be prioritised to ensure that all regions of our country are served by air transport”.

One year since that pronouncement, Biya, critics say, should normally tell citizens what went wrong with such investments, which he had categorised as priority in 2023. 

Having done that, observers say he should be able to say what would be done this coming year, to correct the shortcomings and deliver the promised airports.

Humanitarian support, rebuilding troubled regions

With Cameroon still playing host to thousands of refugees in addition to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, President Paul Biya is also expected to reflect on stepping up government’s support in these areas.   

Many say though things have not properly returned to normalcy in the affected neighouring countries and the North West, South West and Far North Regions, the Head of State should tell citizens what will be done in furthering support for those displaced.

Others say he may also find comfort in talking about the road covered in reconstructing the North West, South West and Far North Regions, where separate plans have been put in place.

Deadly incidents still present in NW, SW

Aware that 2024 will be marking the 7th year since the Anglophone crisis morphed into an armed conflict, Paul Biya, is pictured to review what transpired last year.  

Among these condemnable incidents are: the Egbekaw massacre in Mamfe Central Subdivision and the November 21, 2023, killings by suspected Amba fighters in Bamenyam, Bamboutos Division of the West Region.

Some are already predicting that even though Biya will go ahead to salute the resilience of security forces in crusading against separatist fighters, he must think of fresh options to definitely end the mess.

Insecurity, femicide…

Other issues of grave national concern to millions of Cameroonians which Biya is expected to address are insecurity and the rise in femicide, witnessed in 2023.   

As the father of the nation, the Head of State, observers say, should come out, assure citizens and order for security forces to step up their game in protecting citizens and their properties.

He is also expected to appeal to the national conscience to reverse the incidents of women being killed under circumstances not unconnected to domestic violence.

Political vitality, opposition concerns

As the country drifts towards major elections in 2025, Paul Biya, political scientists are arguing, should use his end-of-year speech to send across a soothing message to political actors. 

For one thing, some key political actors have been overtly criticising his government of tightening the political space to limiting contrary views.

As a way of easing what some say could be a political tension building up stealthily, Paul Biya, it is now being analysed, has the night of Sunday December 31, 2023, to drop that key rallying political message to all, irrespective of political affiliation.

Restate independence of judiciary

Among the controversies of 2023, are some rulings from the courts that some in the business world said shocked them. 

The same goes for the Martinez Zogo affair, where two prime suspects were granted bail that was reversed within hours.  

In the case of the later, the President of the Cameroon Bar Association, Mbah Eric Mbah, petitioned the powers that be, decrying that something is not right somewhere with the judiciary.

Issues such as these, watchers of the polity say must feature prominently in the Head of State’s speech, to indicate if Cameroon is truly a state of law or those in the corridors of power are only paying lip service to the maxim.

Flouting of official documents on social media

Another embarrassing issue Biya needs to handle as he addresses the nation on Sunday is that of several official documents being flouted on social media.

This is in addition to public office holders issuing documents and denying ever signing them and blaming the social media of spreading fake news.

To avoid a situation wherein it will seem citizens are ruled through the social media, the Head of State, governance experts say, needs to hit his hand on the table for those charged with serving the population to cease from sending official documents to the public space through social media.   

Land, chieftaincy squabbles 

A review of 2023 shows that land and chieftaincy squabbles were among prominent issues that threatened peace and stability in many communities.  

In this light, many say the issue deserves the President’s attention to avoid instances in 2024, where communities will be thrown into bloody conflicts.

Recurrent social wrongdoings 

For one thing, Paul Biya as Head of State, knows more than anyone else that the Cameroon he is ruling today is different from what obtained in 1982, when he came to power.  

With the coming of the social media, advancement in technology and many cultural shocks are threatening the very values on which he started off preaching rigour and moralisation.

Government is today battling hate speech and other threats to its living together as preached by Biya. 

For 2024, many say, it will not be wrong if Biya takes interest in appealing to the young and old on the need to be socially responsible and disciplined to better contribute to the building of a better country.