State institutions: 71 Board Chairpersons on bonus time.

In the study, titled: “Exemplary Republic”, the varsity don said based on the July 2017 law, limiting the mandate of Board Chairpersons to three years renewable once, the Head of State is expected to make fresh appointments to replace the concerned persons latest July 12, 2025.

Being an area of research in which she has been consistent on since 2023, Prof Biwole detailed that even before the 2017 law, many of those occupying positions of Board Chair had been in office for decades. 

She noted that despite the novelty of the 2017 law to ensure rotation, innovation and boost performance, President Biya has not replaced persons whose mandates long expired. 

In the report, she said out of a total of 112 institutions, which comprised public corporations and enterprises, the number of Board Chairpersons operating in illegality has continued to increase.

In 2023, Prof Biwole disclosed that the number was 48. In 2024, she said there was an increase of 12.5 percent, moving the number of Board Chairpersons whose mandates had expired to 54.  This year, she said the figure will hit 63.39 percent of the 112 institutions.

Detailing the figures, she noted in her release that out of 75 public establishments, Board Chairpersons of 50 have reached the maximum of their tenure, making a percentage of 66.66. 

The youngest of Board Chairperson, she said, is Mohamadou Saoudi of the Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL aged 55 years. 

The oldest Board Chairperson, Prof Biwole disclosed in her synthesis, is Gillaume Joseph Biwole, 86, heading the Board of the National Advanced School of Posts, Telecommunications and Information and Communication Technologies.

In terms of service, she said Chairpersons of Boards of public establishments and corporations have served for between six to 33 years. 

In this light, Prof Biwole stated that Ayang Luc, President of the Economic and Social Council, holds the position of longest-serving Board Chairperson. 

According to Prof Biwole’s research, Ayang Luc has been Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board, NCCB, for 33 years!

Another long-serving Board Chairperson, she stated, is Fai Yengo Francis, who has chaired the Board of the Rural Electrification Agency for 25 years. 

There is Albert Ekono Nna, who has headed the Board of the Mission for the Development of the Ocean Division with French language acronym, MEAO, for 25 years too.

Prof Gana Fomban Rose epse Leke, has been Chairperson of the board of Institute for Medical Research and Medicinal Plant Studies, IMPM, for 23 years, the same report indicated. 

Crédit Foncier du Cameroun has had Jules Doret Ndongo as Board Chairperson for 20 years. He is currently serving as Minister of Forestry and Wild Life. 

Public Works Minister, Emmanuel Ngannou Djoumessi, the same note indicated, has been Board Chairperson of the National Institute of Statistics, NIS, for 19 years.  

At the level of the Central Bureau of Censuses and Population Studies, BUCREP, Monkam Nitcheu Jean Fabien, has been Chairperson of the Board for 20 years.

Meanwhile, Catherine Ndoumbe Manga has been Chairperson of the L’Office du Baccalaureate du Cameroun, OBC, (Baccalaureate Board) for 18 years. 

The National Radiology and Nuclear Security Agency with French language acronym, ASRAN, has had Madeleine Tchuente as Board Chairperson for 18 years.

Board Chairpersons in more than one establishment

Prof Biwole in her “Exemplary Republic”, also chronicled persons who occupy the post of Board Chairperson in more than one government establishment. 

These are; the Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze. He has been Board Chairperson of the Mekin Hydroelectric Development Corporation for 14 years and Autonomous Sinking Fund, CAA, for seven years. 

Meanwhile, at the level of the Development Bank of Central African States, BDEAC, Motaze has been Board Chairperson for just a little over one year.

Minister Madeiline Tchuente of Scientific Research and Innovation, adds to the list for also serving as Chairperson of the Board of the Institute of Geological and Mining Research. She has held this position for seven years and still counting, Prof Biwole noted.

Just like her, Monkam who has been chairing BUCREP’s Board for 20 years, has also been heading the Board of the Cameroon Petroleum Depot Company, SCDP, for 12 years. 

Fai Yengo Francis is also classified here for serving as Board Chairperson of the National Civil Status Registration Agency, BUNEC, for 10 years and still counting.

The Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office, Prof Seraphin Magloire Fouda, the same report indicates, has been Board Chairperson of the Mission for the Regulation of Supply of Consumer Goods with French language acronym, MIRAP, for 15 years and Energy of Cameroon, ENEO, for 15 years and still counting.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3478 of Thursday June 19, 2025