At Canada Day celebration: High Commissioner hails cooperation ties with Cameroon.

The event, rich in sound and colour, saw the presence of top-ranking government officials, among them, the Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations in charge of Cooperation with the Commonwealth, Felix Mbayu, Parliamentarians, diplomats and civil society leaders.

Speaking during the event, the Canada High Commissioner said relations between Canada and Cameroon are excellent. 

“We are hoping to share a piece of Canada with you this evening, celebrating friendship and collaborative spirit that define Canada relationship with Cameroon and the many values we share,” the High Commissioner said.

Anderson also hailed Cameroon for the ratification of the air transportation agreement with Canada in 2022, highlighting a significant milestone that enhances bilateral relations and economic opportunities.

“We are so pleased to see that the air transport agreement signed between the two countries has recently been ratified by Cameroon, taking a step forward in bilateral relations that will bring mutual benefits to the two countries and further strengthen people to people ties and collaboration,” Anderson detailed.

Highlighting the many ways both countries have benefited from each other, the diplomat made it known that the rich diversity the two countries share have helped in developing businesses in Cameroon and contributed to government’s development plans.

Women urged to participate in 2025 elections 

The Canadian High Commissioner stressed on the role of women in the society, stating that the Canadian feminist international assistance policy has been supporting gender equality and empowering women and girls.

She encouraged Cameroonian women to get their names on the electoral register and be ready to participate in elections to be organised in the country next year.

The diplomat emphasised that women and youths be included in decision-making at the micro level, adding that it will help women into large scale interventions at the local, national and international levels.

“Canada is very ready to work with national schools of local administration to promote the greater inclusion of women in local government with support from the Canada fund for local initiatives,” the High Commissioner said.

Affirming their support, she added: “We have also supported multiple projects with local NGOs for recovery of national ID to enable Cameroonians, especially women to access government services and to register to vote”.

Anderson harped on the importance of improving women’s economic empowerment, stating that it is a drive to development and one of the keys to enhancing women’s ability to starting a business and improving access to credit. 

“This year, we are proud to support the University of Yaounde II to organise an experts panel on the access to financing for women’s entrepreneurship during the International Francophonie Conference CIFE,” Anderson said.

The High Commissioner appreciated the efforts of the Cameroon government to have the National Identity Card produced to citizens within 48 hours.

“I congratulate the government for revolutionising the ID card process that citizens can obtain their ID cards in just 48 hours, which will widen participation in a democratic space,” she said. 

Celebration of cultures

Ambassador Anderson said there are lots of similarities between the cultures of the people of the two countries. 

She went further to narrate how Canadian cultural institutions, such as the Canadian Council for Arts and Canadian Commission for UNESCO, have worked with Cameroonian artists and the Ministry of Arts and Culture to host concerts, art shows, exchanges and workshops that have promoted the culture of the two countries.

“We share a piece of ourselves and enhance our understanding of each other and our interconnectedness as human beings,” Anderson averred.

About Canada Day 

Canada Day, celebrated every July 1, commemorates Canadian Confederation, which became official in 1867. It was originally called Dominion Day. 

It marks the day British North America Act came to effect in 1867, which saw the three separate colonies of the United Canadas, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick united into a single dominion within the British Empire called Canada.

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3157 of Wednesday July 3, 2024