At New Years wishes ceremony: Musonge says proud of bilingualism commission’s achievements.

Musonge made the declaration Friday January 30 in Yaounde while receiving best wishes from staff and members of the NCPBM. Stating that it is nearly nine years since President Paul Biya gave the institution a special mission, the former Prime Minister averred that NCPBM is doing extremely well.

“I should acknowledge that I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish together,” Musonge remarked, but urged the Commission to redouble efforts so as to continue meriting the confidence of the Head of State.

Noting that in 2025 the Commission achieved over 90 percent of its work plan, Musonge said there is no room for staff not to raise the bar higher. In this light, he said everyone at the Commission must be on the alert as renewed efforts are engaged to battle hate speech, xenophobia and strengthen living together within legislative and municipal elections just months away.

“More than ever before, we have to step up the fight against hate speech and xenophobia in our country, especially before, during and after elections,” Musonge declared. 

He sounded confident that the institution will be building on its experience in the past years.

Citing the Head of State’s observation in his State of the nation address of December 31, 2025, wherein Biya decried the rise in hate speech, tribalism and identity withdrawal, he quipped that “we can still do better”.

He asked a committee he set up at the NCPBM to fight hate speech and xenophobia to come up with new strategies to fight the scourges. Musonge made the same appeal through the Secretary General, SG, of the NCPBM, Dr Chi Asafor Cornelius, to the 14 Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, the Commission is working with.

The President insisted that, the relevance of the institution can only be felt through positive results. He enthused that it is possible to deliver excellently if “everyone of us perform our duties with abnegation and discipline”.

Secretary General recalls 2025 strides 

Speaking at the event, Dr Chi Asafor detailed activities that marked 2025 at the NCPBM. He mentioned participation in major national events and other NCPBM actions to promote bilingualism, living together, multiculturalism and the fight against hate speech and Xenophobia.

Dr Chi Asafor mentioned field visits to schools and other administration to evaluate the respect of the official policy on official languages. The teams, he said, were in Yaounde, Douala, Bafoussam, Buea, Garoua, Bertoua, Bamenda and Ebolowa. Teams, he recalled, were also sent to some diplomatic missions viz: Madrid, Spain; Istanbul, Turkiye; Vatican and Rome in Italy for the same purpose.

He disclosed that, its special publications in line with its missions reached several administrations including Governors, Senior Divisional Officer, SDOs, Divisional Officers, DOs and Mayors.  On the presidential election, Dr Chi Asafor noted work done with 14 CSOs nationwide to curb hate speech and xenophobia. 

Within the Commission, SG said the dynamism is buoyant with staff given the best treatment. He disclosed health insurance that covers 80 percent of medical bills and another insurance deal for all vehicles of the institution.

Regional antennas of the NCPBM, he said, are also functioning. Added to his, the NCPBM scribe noted that regular consultations are held with staff to ensure maximum output. In this light, he talked of his renewed interest to deal with isolated cases of absenteeism and laziness.  Dr Chi Asafor also cited difficult moments such as the demise of one its Members David Abouem A Tchoyi in the first quarter of 2025.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3690 of Sunday February 01, 2026