Race to Unity Place: Candidate, Ateki Seta, unveils vision for Cameroon.

Ateki said his vision is around the term 'Acoloniality', which is a philosophy that seeks to move beyond colonial and post-colonial structures. He said it focuses on local agency and African realities to drive development.

“Forty-two long years of unprecedented economic mismanagement, poor governance, systematic and organised looting of state resources, state capture, wastefulness, obscene arrogance, nepotism, cronyism, abuse of power, impunity, human rights violations, and deliberate degradation of State institutions have…imposed unspeakable suffering on Cameroonians,” Ateki declared, boasting he has what it takes to address the shortcomings of the current regime.

Ateki’s proposed social contract 

Ateki described his manifesto as a social contract with the people. He said with regards to the economy, there is need for a new model for Cameroon. 

The presidential candidate said his model involves among others, immediately pulling the country out of the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and focus on investments in manufacturing and infrastructure.

With such a model, he said within five years, unemployment will drop from 35 percent to under 10 percent. 

In terms of political reforms, he is proposing a 10-State federation with elected governors and changing of the country’s name to the Great Republic of Cameroon. He is promising to enforce Article 66 of the Constitution on the declaration of assets and fight corruption head on.

Youth entrepreneurship through vocational training and the creation of a Golden Job Hubs programme to create 100,000 youth jobs by 2030, he said, is part of his vision. Ateki said if voted Head of State, he will strengthen the health, education, and social inclusion systems. 

In addition to this, he talked of the creation of Health Technology Innovation Hubs and boosting universal health coverage. The candidate also pledged to enshrine economic sovereignty by creating a national currency, and to strengthen civil society by improving institutional and legal infrastructure and allowing associations to access public funding

Dialogue on Anglophone crisis, freeing political prisoners

Ateki told reporters that he going to promote national reconciliation, organise dialogue on the Anglophone crisis and free political prisoners.

Additionally, the manifesto addresses maritime security to coordinate efforts against illegal fishing and piracy. 

Atekei also stated his intention to promote cultures and traditions, strengthen the country's diplomatic presence, and advance women’s rights. 

The manifesto also includes plans to boost youth empowerment and national sports movements, improve tourism infrastructure, and engage with the diaspora by creating an investment fund and legalising dual nationality.

He said there will be a reform of the Electoral Code to ensure the independence of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, the establishment of digital platforms for transparency, and the creation of a Unified National Army. He also proposed unique identification number for every citizen.

Way forward 

According to Ateki his campaign will now focus on mobilising supporters and educating them on the party’s vision. He said it is necessary to convince people that the party has a better plan to improve livelihoods.

"I am the voice of those whose voices have been silenced for too long," he asserted.

He urged citizens to vote for change and to construct what he called a glorious, prosperous, and dignified nation. “Let us all seize this moment…to transform our country,” Ateki said.

Enter PAL President 

PAL President, His Majesty Celestin Bedzigui, said: “Faced with the confiscation of the state by a disconnected elite, the time has come to rally all of Cameroon's vital forces, both within the country and in the diaspora, to build a new citizen majority, free from clan, regional, or tribal divisions”. 

He drummed national unity, “collective responsibility, and transcending the artificial divisions that have weakened and divided our country…” retorting that: “Change is within reach”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3523 of Monday August 04, 2025