Cameroon, UK aim to deepen parliamentary ties.

The audience marked the first official engagement between the British diplomat and the House Speaker since Woods assumed his role in the country in September 2024. 

Discussions during the event focused on ways to further strengthen the relationship between the legislative bodies of both nations. 

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, High Commissioner Woods stated the UK's commitment to improving ties between the parliaments of Cameroon and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"The main purpose was to talk about parliamentary links and how we can strengthen those links. We talked about how to revitalise the group of friends of British-Cameroonian parliamentarians. It is good to have relations with governments but it is also important to have relationship with parliamentarians. We are really keen to widen that relationship as well," he said.

Woods, who recently returned from the Far North Region, also discussed with the House Speaker potential collaborations between the British government and Cameroon in the ongoing fight against Boko Haram and efforts to promote development in the region. 

Outlining his priorities for his tenure in Cameroon, Woods highlighted fostering economic growth and development as a key objective.

"The main one is what every government wants right now and that is economic growth and development. There is a really good story to tell here about British-Cameroon cooperation, whether it is about British investment, British exports and trade. I was just telling the Speaker of the National Assembly that 11% of bananas in the UK are from Cameroon," he noted.

Another area identified for increased collaboration is the preservation of Cameroon's biodiversity and the recognition of the global importance of the Congo Basin forest. High Commissioner Woods indicated this would be a priority during his time in the country.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3513 of Thursday July 24, 2025