When “High Instructions” portray cacophony of vacancy!.

But as former Secretary General, Jean Marie Atangana Mebara, today caged in Kondengui prison, explained in his book titled: ‘Le Secrétaire Général de la Présidence de la République au Cameroun, entre mythes, textes et réalités,’ "the constitution provides that the President of the Republic exerts regulatory power, i.e. to make decrees for the implementation of the promulgated laws…the Head of State can delegate part of his power to the Prime Minister (…) or the defence minister. These delegations are made via decrees signed by the President of the Republic. They are impersonal because they are not granted to the people in that position at the time but to all those who will assume the position," from the time the decree is signed till it is rescinded.

The Guardian Post acknowledges that it is the President's constitutional prerogative to delegate his signature. He did it in September 22, 1994, to Titus Edzoa, to negotiate and sign agreements with third-parties for the payment of Bank of Credit and Commerce Cameroon’s debts.

What raised eyebrows in the current case is that it is permanent. Unlike in previous cases where it was specific, the Head of State was also regularly in the public eye, attending all international summits of Heads of State and presiding at important national events such as the finals of the Cup of Cameroon soccer tournament.

But in recent years, he has hardly been in public view and even during the last presidential election, which naturally candidates should crisscross the country, climb on soap boxes and articulate their policies to the electorate, President Biya made just one campaign stop!

His absence in public view has been highlighted by his former Communication minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, that he was governing through proxies.

A national political and legal personality like Akere Muna, even went to the Constitutional Council, to challenge President Biya’s capability to govern but the application collapsed. The applicant failed to prove that President Biya is incapable to govern.

There is no qualm that he has relied on "Very High Instructions" to govern. Critics have however doubted the authenticity of some of the instructions.

The most glaring case, which has become a scandal, is that of such instructions to terminate the contract of the Swiss firm, SGS, carrying out scanning operations at the Douala seaport and replace it with an Israeli firm, TransAtlantic D.

When the instructions were issued, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, called an Inter Ministerial Meeting, at which the supposed Very High Instructions from the Presidency was rejected.

The Prime Minister’s Office immediately sent a "directive" to Port Authority of Douala, PAD, General Manager, to allow SGS to continue with its contractual obligation, which should expire in 2032.

In reply, the Director General of PAD, Cyrus Ngo’o, sent a letter to the Director General of SGS, inviting her to a meeting in regards to the: “Review of the modalities for resuming your goods scanning inspection activities at the Container Terminal of the Port of Douala-Bonaberi, in accordance with the directives of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, notified to me by letter reference Number B70/d-27/SG/PM, dated January 30, 2026".

The meeting schedule for yesterday, the PAD General Manager said, was "to examine, as we have always desired, the practical modalities for resuming your goods scanning activities at the Port of Douala-Bonaberi, in strict compliance with the police and operational rules applicable to all activities and operators within the port platform”.

The meeting, however, did not hold because SGS asked for adjournment and said only government can discuss some of the issues in PAD's proposed agenda.

It goes without saying that if the "Very High Instruction" to evict SGS was genuine, the Prime Minister would not have rejected it with a humble "directive".

Isn't there the possibility that there have been such other very high fake instructions that have not been detected?  

As The Guardian Post raised a concern yesterday that has been on the lips of millions of Cameroonians, since November 6, 2025, when the Head of State, Paul Biya, took the oath of office, his impact is felt only by decrees and “Very High Instructions”.

Yet, there are yawning vacancies in the judiciary, government, State corporations and administration caused by death, resignation or retirement, begging to be filled.

Even his ministers have been shy to be vocal in their actions with the fever of reshuffle in "the coming days" keeping them in perpetual suspense and the nation wondering if the Head of State is still in control. 

Now that the authenticity of “Very High Instructions” has been disproved, it's time for the Head of State to limit them to specific issues so as to avoid a repeat of the scandal just observed in the PAD scanning contract and commune with the people to debunk viral speculations that the stool at the Unity Palace is empty and begging for a legitimate occupant. 

We come in peace!

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3693 of Wednesday February 04, 2026