THE FORUM HELD IN BUEA FROM 12-13TH MAY 2023 UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, H.E. CHIEF DR. JOSEPH DION NGUTE.
The following persons were appointed members of the resolution committee of the South West Peace and Development Forum:
Hon. Walters Tarkang Ayuk: Commissioner for Education, Sports and Culture: Chairperson,
Hon Akime George Elaw, Secretary to the Finance Committee at the South West Regional Assembly: Member,
Hon. Prof. Fonkeng Primus: Chairperson of the Education Committee, Member,
Hon. Dr. Doreen Mekunda Bebe: Vice-Chairperson of the Education Committee, Rapporteur,
Hon. Nganje Shedill, Member.
The commission was charged with the responsibility to give a general appraisal of speeches, presentations, general organization and conduct of the forum. They were equally guided by the topics presented, to educate, inform, and sensitize the population of the South West Region on the prevailing security and socio-economic climate of the region.
Considering the theme: The South West Peace and Development Forum,
Cognizant of the purpose of the forum,
Acknowledging the progress made so far by the South West Regional Assembly in peace and development,
Considering reactions expressed by participants of the forum,
Appraising the health institutions and quality of health care services provided in the South West Region,
Considering the development of road infrastructure, agriculture. human and economic resources of the South West Region,
Members resolved as follows:
ON THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE NATION
Hail the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya for his persistent determination to consolidate National Unity through the implementation of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism.
Express with profound gratitude the deep sense of understanding, level headedness and astute leadership displayed by H. E. President Paul Biya, Head of State and President of the Republic in defending our territorial integrity,
Heartily congratulate the Head of State for his determination to consolidate peace, unity, national integration, and the stability of state institutions,
Hail H.E. President Paul Biya for the convocation of the Grand National Dialogue that led to the implementation of Decentralization and the reinforcement of the mission of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism commission,
Hail the Head of State for the confidence bestowed on the Prime Minister, Head of Government to patronize the South West Peace and Development Forum.
Heartily congratulate the Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E. Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, for his indefatigable role in the management of the government of Cameroon.
ON THE SOUTH WEST REGIONAL ASSEMBLY
Hail the President of the South West Regional Assembly, Hon. Zacheus Bakoma Elango, for the excellent initiative of bringing together sons and daughters of the South West Region under the umbrella of this forum to brainstorm on the different avenues of bringing sustainable peace and development in the region,
Congratulate the South West Regional Assembly for the development strides made so far in the domains of health, energy, water, education, and economic development,
Observe with profound satisfaction the collaboration that prevails between the South West Regional Assembly and the State through the Ministry of Decentralization to enhance peace and development.
ON THE DEVOLUTION OF POWER TO THE REGIONS
Members praised the Head of State for devolving powers in the domains of health, urban affairs, environment and nature protection, transport, and most recently education,
Members plead on the government for the acceleration of same, with accompanying resources to permit the regions to expediently accomplish the task entrusted to them.
ON PEACE BUILDING
Members strongly hold that peace is priceless and our desire to achieve peace is primordial. Consequently, the convening of this peace and development forum should serve as a compass towards the realization of the above objective,
Members, therefore, note with satisfaction the determination of the people of the South West Region to pursue the much-needed peace that has eluded the region for the past 6 years, hence, the motivation of the organization of this peace and development forum.
Express with satisfaction the presentation on peace and conflict resolution and its workshop , recommending that points presented be implemented on the field.
ON HEALTH
Members express with satisfaction, efforts deployed by government and the South West Regional Assembly to enhance health facilities and health delivery in the region but noted that access to quality health facilities in our communities is faced with numerous challenges,
Urge the South West Regional Assembly to pay greater attention in reviving abandoned district hospitals so that our population should continue to benefit in first aid treatment,
Appeal to government and the South West Regional Assembly to continue the supply of essential drugs to existing district hospitals,
We laud the excellent relationship that exist between the South West Regional Assembly and the Diaspora which led to the shipping of two 40feet containers of medical equipment from the USA.
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to assist the health authorities in the specialization of the 6 divisions in the South West region in the vast medical domain.
Improve on the human resources through the admission in to medical faculty our own children and the consequent recruitment to serve the population of the South West Region.
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Members note that where a road passes, development follows. Unfortunately, the South West Region lacks farm-to-market roads, pipe-borne water and rural electrification. Consequently, discussions from the workshops indicate that more attention be paid to the provision of these facilities,
Hail the South West Regional Assembly for commendable efforts made in the provision of health facilities, solar-lighting of some localities, provision of bore-holes, didactic materials, food to IDPs, etc.
Call on Strategic partners and stake-holders, including the diaspora, to join hands with the South West Regional Assembly to give the South West Region and its population a befitting face-lift it deserves.
ON AGRICULTURE
Members note that agriculture is the main activity of the people of the South West Region. Consequently, resolutions from the workshops and presentations of our resource persons point to the fact that there is the need to modernize our agricultural sector and diversify our agricultural products,
Appreciate efforts made by the South West Regional Assembly and the National Association of Banana and Plantain producers to organize the 2nd edition of the festival of the Banana and Plantain in November 2023,
Participants equally call on the State and the South West Regional Assembly to organize capacity building workshops within communities for greater awareness and sustainability,
Call on government to educate and follow-up farmers to create farmers’ groups, cooperatives, and provide pesticides for increase production of their farm products for the region to be self-sufficient in food,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to sensitize the population of the South West Region on matters concerning land use, water pollution, land degradation/soil erosion and deforestation, landslides and flooding, climate change and loss of biodiversity,
Call on the government to educate, inform and sensitize communities of the South West Region to jealously protect our cultural heritage and land,
Call on government to improve on road network especially farm to market road, market structures to give the peasant farmers the possibility to transport and market their products in time.
ON EDUCATION
Members appreciate the State of Cameroon for the transfer of competences in the domain of education to Decentralized collectivities,
Congratulates the South West Regional Assembly for the construction of classrooms, modern latrines and provision of didactic materials to schools,
Call on our local communities to facilitate the resumption of schools in their respective towns and villages,
Call on education stakeholders to lay emphasis on education for productivity with focus on vocational and technical education; we should be production-oriented in education, marketability and employability, adding values to local resources and peace,
Provide second chance education to adults to beef-up their knowledge,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to assist in the development of manpower of students of South West origin in the various professional and higher institutions of learning such as ENS, ENSET, ENAM, IRIC, etc,
Call on the authorities of the South West Region to give priority to South West indigenous children,
Call on the government to build more vocational training centres in the South West Region,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly, SONARA, CDC etc, to subsidize the education of South West children.
ON ENERGY
Hail Government and the South West Regional Assembly for the provision of solar lighting to villages and towns in the South West Region,
Plead with the State and service provider (ENEO) to improve the quality of energy provision and distribution in the South West Region,
Call on the State to complete the technological upgrade, rehabilitation and refurbishment of SONARA and improve the distribution of fuel in the South West Region,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to carry out an inventory of energy sources in the South West Region,
Call on the State to rehabilitate existing energy production centres, to boost energy in the region,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to work in partnership with the University of Buea and other stakeholders in the training of energy management experts and provide scholarships to promote the training of technicians,
Call on the Government to prioritize the installation of renewable energy production plants in rural areas,
Call on the South West Regional Assembly to encourage the commercialization of charcoal which we have in abundance in the South West Region which has the potential of providing employment to our people.
ON TAXATION AND FISCAL POLICIES
Appreciate the government for efforts made to maintain a moderate fiscal policy, however, call on the State to review some elements of the 2023 tax code,
Recommend that South Westerners should locate the head quarters of their companies in the South West so as to increase the amount of communal taxes paid by FEICOM that comes to the region,
Recommend massive investment in the agricultural sector because it is tax free,
Recommend Cameroonians to invest in target sectors like renewable energy, Banana sector, transformation of local materials, etc, which is either tax free or have special government incentives,
Call on the South West Region to take advantage of the fact that we are considered a crisis zone that enjoys special tax rate.
Done in Buea this Saturday 13th May 2023.
