Gov't, partners commit to progressively reform public finance management.

The Minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze, who opened deliberations, hinted that significant progress has been made since the committee last sat and dished out key recommendations.

He pledged government’s commitment to systematic reforms, harping that there was need to put in place a public finance management system based on integrated surveillance of performance of different sectors of governance.

This includes how budget execution is effectively carried out; how decentralised collectivities are living up to the expectations of the central administration, in terms of implementation of recommended reforms; how personnel management conforms to expected standards; how government revenues are being secured; among other expectations.

Minister Motaze gave assurance to the partners that transparency in governance is being improved all round, citing the report submitted to partners recently by the National Assembly as confirmation of that improvement. The Minister added that it was on the basis of significant improvements recorded in public finance management that the National Assembly was able to easily pass the law on fiscality at the level of decentralised collectivities; approve reforms in property tax; and approving the clearing of the backlog of salary arrears, among other strategic accomplishments.

Technical & financial partners speak

Sebastien Dibling, Chief of Cooperation at the European Union in charge of Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guines, Sao Tome and Principe, and the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS, said the fact that partners have since 2017, held regular sessions with government, is an indication that government is on the right track.

He gave assurance that technical and financial partners, which include the French Development Agency, AFD; the African Development Bank, AfDB; World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF; German Cooperation Mission, GTZ; United Nations Children´s Fund, UNICEF; among others, will continue to stand by and accompany the government of Cameroon in its effort to bring forth reforms in the management of public finances so that all Cameroonians get the feelgood effects of public expenditure.

The high-profile diplomat expressed optimism that if the IMF was able to conclude a new programme with the Yaounde government since June 2025, it was sufficient indication that all is going well as far as the management of public finances in Cameroon is concerned.

He added that all technical and financial partners are looking forward to when the Yaounde government will conclude the ongoing programme and signed another one with the IMF. Which to the partners will enable the government consolidate on the gains made so far.

Meanwhile, Boumsong Sophie, the Director of Reforms in the Ministry of Finance, said their collective effort remains unrelenting, especially as partners are ever ready to guide and support officials.

She admitted that inter operationalisation across different government services was still weak, but pledged that they will keep working to improve the situation; and why not attain the standards that are expected by technical and financial partners. 

Boumsong assured Cameroonians that reforms in public finance management remain government´s priority; adding that they will continue to follow the recommendations of partners as it concerns better coordination of public services delivery as a condition for continuous receipt of budget support. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3568 of Thursday September 18, 2025