At flag hoisting ceremony: Gov’t reaffirms commitment to Commonwealth values, principles.

The ceremony held Monday March 4 at the premises of the Ministry of External Relations, MINREX, in Yaounde.

It was attended by several members of government, representatives of diplomatic institutions accredited to Cameroon and a host of others. 

The event was chaired on behalf of the Minister of External Relations, H.E Mbella Mbella, by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperations with the Commonwealth, H.E Felix Mbayu.

The flag hoisting ceremony marked the start of commemorative activities of the 2024 edition of the Commonwealth Day.

The event will culminate on March 11 with a grandiose celebration. This year’s edition has been placed under the theme: “One resilient common future”.

Cameroon’s commitment

In his key note address during yesterday’s event, the Minister Mbayu said in cognisant of challenging global events which question Commonwealth members’ commitment, Cameroon is resolute to Commonwealth guiding principles that have shaped the contours of international peace and security over decades. 

“The threat posed by insufficient collective actions justify, to a considerable extent, the decision to adopt the 2024 Commonwealth theme,” the seasoned diplomat explained.

Drawing inspiration from the speech of the Commonwealth Secretary General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, Minister Mbayu emphasised that the theme reminds members of the economic, environment and security challenges they all face. 

“It also reminds us that we should work together to build resilience, boost trade innovation and growth as well as empower the Commonwealth’s 1.5billion young people to build a more peaceful and sustainable future,” he stated. 

Mbayu then reiterated that the theme is a vital reminder of the responsibility members of the gentleman’s club to ensure that “the acts we pose today, can enable sustainable collective action to withstand adversity and constructively empower current and future generation in a virtuous circle that will enhance our capacity to foster end-to-end resilience across all sectors of human activities”. 

Biya’s call for resilience

Cognisant of the said realities, Minister Mbayu reminded attendees that President Paul Biya, had sounded “this in his different addresses”, notably during his 2023 end-of-year speech and also during the ceremony to receive 2024 New Year wishes from state personalities and the diplomatic community accredited to Cameroon.

“During these addresses, the President of the Republic reaffirmed the importance of building resilience across all possible spheres of activities and highlighted the cardinal role to unlocking our country’s development potential,” Mbayu declared in his address. 

According to the Minister Delegate, it is against this backdrop that activities to mark the 2024 Commonwealth Day in Cameroon have been launched.

He assured that the different activities earmarked seek to shed more light on national development projects and aspirations that resonate with the Commonwealth Day theme.  

It is worth mentioning that the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Barry Lowen; Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Lorraine Anderson, as well as the South African High Commissioner to Cameroon, Mandla Langa, graced the occasion with their presence. 

The event was also attended by the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze; the Minister of Culture, Pierre Bidoung Mpkatt; Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Audit, CONSUPE, Mbah Acha Rose; Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Acheri Kilo; the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development in charge of Planning, Paul Tasong; and a host of other dignitaries.