By Daniel D.
In a country of nearly 30 million people, Cameroon’s government has 32 Ministries and over 45 Ministers and Minister Delegates, a number opposition politicians argue is a waste of the country’s budget.
In January 1996, Cameroon amended its Constitution to incorporate decentralization, aimed at devolving powers within the framework of a unitary state.
However, it wasn’t until 2004 that the legal framework for decentralization was established. This process involves the transfer of special powers and resources to regional and local authorities.
Political observers argue that, 28 years later, the government has been reluctant to fully devolve powers.
To advance decentralization, the government has created additional Ministries, including the Ministry of Decentralization, which was created in 2019 as a split from the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
Currently, Cameroon has 32 Ministries and more than 45 Ministers.
‘Waste Of Resources’
According to Ndifor Richard, the Social Democratic Front’s (SDF) deputy national secretary for political education and training, the current structure is excessive and leads to inefficiencies.
“Many ministries overlap in their functions, which can result in bureaucratic delays and wasted resources,” Richard said.
“Why do we need separate ministries for Higher Education, Secondary Education, Basic Education, and Vocational Training? This redundancy leads to inefficiencies.”
Fah Elvis Tayong of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) suggests that Cameroon should have a single national education ministry with sub-directories for different sectors.
Tayong also argues that the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the Family and the Ministry of Social Affairs could be merged.
He cited confusion between ministries, such as Urban Development and Public Works, which often results in unclear accountability when projects like road construction are mishandled.
MMI once reported the story of a dilapidated stretch of road in Limbe, which the Ministry of Public Works said it could not fix because it was within the competence of the Ministry of Urban Development.
The confusion between the government ministries, according to Tayong, is rendering the system inefficient and ineffective
“I think that the number of ministries—32 and 45 ministers—is excessive for a developing country like Cameroon,” Tayong said.
“All those numbers of ministries and ministers are a waste of the budget.”
Overlapping Responsibilities
Ndifor of the SDF also believes that several Ministries are unnecessary, leading to increased public spending on salaries and administrative costs.
This year, Cameroon’s budget was set at over 6,740 billion FCFA, with only 1,327 billion FCFA allocated for public investment.
On June 20, President Paul Biya amended the 2024 finance law, raising the budget to 7,212.5 billion FCFA.
The country’s domestic debt stood at 827 billion FCFA in the first quarter of 2024 and this debt is partially attributed to unnecessary expenditures in government necessitated by the vast number of Ministries.
Tayong criticized the creation of more Ministries and commissions, suggesting that the government uses these positions to reward allies close to the regime.
“It is a total waste of the budget,” he said.
Streamlining The Government
Ndifor emphasized that Cameroon faces more pressing developmental challenges than the need for numerous ministries.
“We should be asking whether these ministries are delivering tangible results for the citizens of Cameroon. I believe a more streamlined government would enhance coordination and accountability, allowing us to focus on delivering effective services to the people of Cameroon,” he said.
His party, the SDF, has 18 Shadow Cabinet Ministers, who, if elected, plan to review the current structure and consolidate overlapping ministries.
“Our Shadow Cabinet, consisting of just 18 ministers, reflects our commitment to a leaner, more accountable government. By consolidating overlapping ministries, we can enhance efficiency and reduce bureaucratic red tape,” he said.
He added that this restructuring would not only save public funds but also allow for more focused and effective governance.
“We believe that a streamlined government can better address the pressing needs of Cameroonians, ensuring that resources are directed toward essential services and development initiatives that truly benefit the people of Cameroon. Ultimately, we aim to create a government that is responsive, transparent, and aligned with the aspirations of the Cameroonian population,” he said.
Tayong said that CRM would also cut down the number of ministries to improve efficiency and reduce overlapping functions.
He urged Cameroonians to register and vote in the 2025 presidential election to effect change.
“CRM had earlier envisaged that if we are to be in power, which we would be, we will slash down all ministerial duties. Running even 15 ministries in Cameroon makes things okay,” Tayong said.
“We don’t need numbers. What matters are the efficiency and effectiveness if well harnessed. Looking at the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of these numerous ministries and ministers, we have taken time to advocate for Cameroonians to register massively because we strongly believe that it is in the course of this registration that we can be able to get a change in the government.
“And when CRM comes in, we are going to get effective execution without having all these chunks of ministers and ministries, with some having duplicate functions,” he told MMI.
Of the current Ministries in Cameroon, some even have two Ministers, such as the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Regional Development.
The Ministry of External Relations has three Ministers, while four Ministers hold special duties in the Presidency.
