Race to Unity Palace: Akere unveils vision for new Cameroon.

He presented the plan, anchored on vigorously fighting corruption, promoting good governance and overhauling the entire statecraft in Yaounde, last Thursday. 

This was during a press conference at the UNIVERSE party headquarters at the Mimboman neighbourhood. 

Fielding questions from reporters during the presser, Akere was emphatic that his vision is to rescue the country from being further singing into misery and bring it back to the rails of development and growth in just five years. 

“I am asking for a mandate of five years, a transition mandate, during which we shall just refound the Republic,” he stated. 

He insisted that “…after five years in office, I will supervise the election of the next President and I will leave. That is what I am proposing”.

Akere insisted that he will implement his plan in the first 100 days and he would change things for the better for all Cameroonians within his five years at the helm of State.  

Opposition coalition still feasible 

Akere responded to couple of questions related to talks of a consensus opposition candidate. He said the talks to have a consensus candidate which started in Foumban, suffered disagreements when the discussions were moved to Yaounde.

“When we came to Yaounde, ‘something happened’…and people started talking more about programs,” he explained. 

He, however, sounded upbeat that the possibility of a coalition before the voting day is “still feasible”. 

Robust plan for first 100 days 

Akere said if elected Head of State, he will immediately swing into action and will address a series of burning national issues to bring the country back to a new path, during his first 100 days in office. 

He said an emergency programme to accelerate development in all 360 municipalities will be rolled out to determine the human and financial resources required to meet basic social needs.

Once in office, he said, immediate measures will be taken to facilitate the movement of Diaspora-based compatriots, pending amendment of the laws to establish multi-nationality.

He said a general audit will be conducted to assess the State revenue, debt situation, and proper data to develop realistic economic reforms and create trustworthy roadmap for development. 

Akere also promised to engage inclusive dialogue to address the root causes of the conflict rocking the English-speaking Regions of the country. 

Strengthening democracy and governance, he also said, are a priority, especially given that most institutional and administrative structures remain stuck in the rigid and centralised reflexes of a one-party State. 

Akere said urgent reforms are needed to ensure separation of power, expand civil society freedoms and truly empower the private sector as the engine of sustainable economic growth. 

Five-year vision for Cameroon 

Within the five-year mandate he is begging Cameroonians to give him, he also outlined what would be realised for the country. 

On democracy and governance, Akere talked of introducing a new Constitution, ensuring elections are free and fair, ensure transparency and accountability within government.

He also talked of instituting a federal system of government, putting in place appropriate legal framework for asset declarations and ensuring support to the civil society and the media.

Akere promised to revive the economy and make it inclusive with investment in education, supporting SMEs, exploiting natural resources for the benefit of all.

He mentioned improving the business climate to make it more conducive, fast-tracking infrastructure development with improvement in water, electricity and telecommunications supply as well as rethinking a strategy for air, rail and road transport.

On the issue of the Cameroonian Diaspora, Akere talked of recognising multi-nationality, giving them legitimacy in the country's architecture and optimising reconstruction by use of their skills.

In the education sector, Akere promised to ensure better match between training, the labour market and needs of the country's development objectives.

He also promised to improve the working conditions of teachers, increasing access to practical skills acquisition for vocational training and higher education in the new digital technologies, tech, science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

He also promised to protect the dual colonial heritage of bilingualism as well as teach national languages.

In the health sector, Akere said he would increase funding for public health services and develop modern technical facilities, improve working conditions of health workers, ensure effectiveness and accessibility of universal health coverage and prioritise mental health and well-being.

The legal mind pledged to reform the judicial system, strengthen the independence of the judiciary, make justice more accessible, promote policies that protect vulnerable populations, strengthen laws against discrimination and violence, fight corruption at all levels and protect Cameroon’s bi-jural system. 

Akere promised to address the root causes of conflicts, work towards reconciliation and healing in affected areas, promote dialogue, unity, cultural differences as well as further professionalise the defence and security forces. 

He also talked of improving the national sports training facilities, establishing an appropriate framework to protect artists and performing arts professionals and make Cameroon a true tourist destination among others. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3548 of Friday August 28, 2025