Celestin Tawamba elected president of GeCAM.

Tawamba who served as president of the now defunct employer’s union, GICAM, got 550 of the 560 votes cast. Representatives of members who voted, had right to suffrage according to the capital category. 

The very big enterprises had right to 5 votes, big enterprises, 3 votes, small enterprises a single vote and very small enterprises 0.2 vote. 

It was not then a surprise, that the list of the lone candidate, recorded a sweeping victory.

Tawamba who stood for the election unopposed will now lead an 18-man executive bureau of GeCAM.

The GeCAM General Assembly, chaired by the Batonier Etah Bisong Jr, came to be as a result of the merger between the former Cameroon Employers’ Association known by its French acronym GICAM and Entreprises du Cameroun, ECAM. 

The over 70% votes in favour of the highly contested merger in July last year, gave birth to the now Union of Cameroonian Enterprises, GeCAM. 

Going by resolutions laid at the Constitutive General Assembly of December, 2023, the observatory committee was to organise elections three months after. 

The call for candidacy, saw Célestin Tawamba coming up with a single list with mission to create “a concrete foundation”.

Tawamba’s campaign manager, Mireille Fomekong Ayangma, speaking prior to the voting, rekindled the minds of the members of GeCAM to reasons why the merger came to be and that it was but normal to reinstate who piloted the course as president. 

She said, they can now channel their issues to government with a single voice, whereas when there is division, confusion steps in. 

Fomekong Ayangma called on them to lay their choice on the person who can best defend the interest of the private sector.

Appealing manifesto

While presenting his manifesto, the President of Cadyst Invest Group, who was lone candidate for the post of GECAM president, stated the commitment of his team to expand internal sources of financing by setting up innovative paid services.

He also said they will identify public funding niches, likely to maintain a certain independence as well as determine membership fees and contributions consistently with their economic weight.

Tawamba pledged to carry out advocacy and lobbying actions with public authorities for the mobilsation of long-term financial resources thus identified, in order to densify the actions and activities of the employer to obtain more significant results. 

The business guru also averred they will strengthen collaboration with development partners to be able to mobilise funding for the implementation of certain high-impact activities requiring significant resources, amongst other things

Other members of the bureau

The 18 heavyweights bureau from various sectors; the now GeCAM  board of directors is made up of economic leaders  include the likes of  Mitwa Ng'ambi (CEO of MTN Cameroon) Jean Perrial Nyodog (CEO of Gulfcam), Stéphane Descazeaud (CEO of Boissons du  Cameroun), Amine Homman Ludiye (CEO of Eneo), Protais Ayangma (DG P2A Assurances), Jean Faustin Ngueyep (President GFBC), Gabriel Manimben (President GPAC), Gwendoline Abunaw of Ecobank among others.

Tawamba grateful for renewed trust

In his post-election speech, Tawamba appreciated those who have been with him throughout the processes leading to the merger and now the elections. 

He did not fail to thank the members for their renewed trust on him and his team. 

Tawamba said their confidence, is call to commitment on their part, adding that they are now strongest force as the private sector of wealth and employment creators. 

He said from now on, GeCAM will defend the interests of 90% of private companies in Cameroon. 

That is 1,000 companies from GICAM, 400 companies from ECAM and business organisation of businesses in the informal sector. 

GeCAM boss promised that despite multiple constraints, including “the energy and infrastructure deficit, the unsuitable tax system and public policies” he will work to make sure these realities do not penalise the output of the private sector

At the end of the day, the assembly adopted the resolution putting in place the current bureau. The bureau by resolution, has been placed under an observatory committee of which Barrister Etah Bisong Jr is president.