Major National Dialogue Recommendations: Follow-up Committee Appreciates Implementation Level

Family Photo Of PM And Follow-Up Committee Members After The Meeting In Yaounde

By Raymond Dingana

Members of the Follow-up committee of the implementation of the resolutions of the Major National Dialogue have saluted the gradual return to peace in the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon.

Meeting at the star building, August 4, 2022 to take stalk of the progress made as far as the implementation of the recommendations of the Dialogue are concerned, 3 years after the major National Dialogue, the members all testified that despites all the odds, peace, love and harmony is returning to these regions hit by the crisis for close to six years today.

Prime Minister Dion Ngute Chairing The Follow-up Committee Meeting

Chairingthe follow-up committee meeting, the Prime minister and head of Government Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute in his address buttressed on the various areas that progress has been made since the holding of the Major national dialogue, highlighting that there are still some pockets of resistance posed by the separatist fighters

On the reopening of schools, Prime minister Dion Ngute , with so much joy in his heart made evidence by his facial expression announced with great delight that, after the drastic fall in the number of children going to school in these regions at the start of the crisis, which at a certain point went down to 20,000 in 2017 for the South West region but that number today has tripled as the South West Region counts over 91000 children going to school while the North West alone counts 71000 according statistics of the last academic year and it seems the situation is improving as the years unfold.

MND Committee Members During The Follow-Up Meeting In Yaounde

The restart of Agricultural activities in the regions are gradually improving as fresh looking vegetables are in the markets of the Urban centres of Cameroon from the North West Region. The Prime minister mentioned they have been a significant revamping of agricultural activities in these regions as more and more people are returning to continue their farming activities that were interrupted due to the crisis.

The prime minister as well highlighted that even CDC whose activities were grounded at the start of the crisis has pick up steam and have begun exporting its products to Europe and the Americas. To the delight of many, it has greatly improved the living condition of the population of these regions.

Messages of peace and loved from former extremists

At the start of the crisis in 2016 hate speech was the order of the day, as brothers and sisters of the same country could not look into the eyes of each other and talk peace but today thanks to the creation of the national commission for the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism, whose members have been doing a commendable job by preaching against hate speech.

There has been a remarkable transformation as the population now upholds virtues of peace, love, reconciliation and progress. The population is gradually turning their backs against separatist and enemies of peace.

Decentralization and the special status to the North West and South West

One of the strong recommendations of the major national dialogue was the granting of a special status to the North West and South West Regions. Their Linguistic, legal, socio cultural and educational specificity tabled a need for them to be treated differently from the other 8 regions.

Follow-up Committee Members At The Meeting In Yaounde

Tpublic independent conciliators of these 2 regions have been appointed and are currently carrying out their duties. The house of chiefs which is a particular identity to the people of the North West and South West were put in place during the regional council elections.

All these measures were taken to answer the grievances raised by the population of these regions and accommodate them in a country which is one and indivisible.

Despite the great strides there is still a lot to do

It is true without much doubt the situation in the North West and South West has greatly improved. Schools have reopened, many separatist fighters have dropped their guns, the regions are currently under reconstruction, love and harmony seems to be flowing down the streams of these regions but there is much that is still to be done.

Separatists fighters are still in control of some parts of these regions, arms are still been trafficked , bombings and killings even in the church everywhere seems to be dark and everywhere seems to still be In slumber.

The members of the committee quite aware of these happenings, brained stormed on the possible way out and with hope there is a bright light at the end of the tunnel. They called on the population to be more collaborative with the government so that at the end we will laugh when all will be said and done.

Reactions of other members at the end of the meeting

The 4th session of the follow up committee of the major national dialogue brought together people of timber and caliber. It was unique this year, as it saw the presence of some members of the diaspora.

Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting. Paddy Asanga, a very active member of the Cameroonian diaspora on the crisis said:

I am very happy that I was invited for this meeting. At least there was a platform for me to air my mind. I told the members during the meeting that let those in the diaspora that have been accused of so many crimes be granted amnesty so that they can freely return to the country and give their own opinion on a possible way out of these crisis. My prayer is that they should be heard and lets all talk as brothers and sisters.

On the question of the special status, Paddy remarked that:

the content of the special status should be clearly defined. I don’t believe in the form but I am interested in the details. I hope this will be looked into. He added that,

A lot has been done to bring back peace in the 2 English speaking part of the country. Maybe what is left now is the sincerity to completely implement the resolutions taking during the dialogue.

The members of the follow up committee left the meeting with much satisfaction and with hope that, things will keep improving.

www.drayinfos.com