Philemon Yang has been maintained as Cameroon’s Prime Minister. President Paul Biya re-shuffled the government which was announced on state radio (CRTV) late on Friday.
Biya was expected to re-shuffle his cabinet after he was declared winner of an October Presidential poll in the Central African nation. The government remains very big with more than 50 members including 37 full ministers. There are about a dozen new faces but several ministers maintain their portfolio or simply switch departments.
The most noteworthy new member is the Finance Minister, Alamine Ousmane Mey, who comes from the private sector. He was head of Afriland First Bank. His predecessor Essimi Menye is now in-charge of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Biya also named Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh as the new Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic. He was permanent secretary at the ministry of external relations.
Biya maintained his trust in the coalition that backed him during the elections and did not give government positions to other opposition parties as was widely rumoured. As such, Bello Bouba Maigari (UNDP party), Issa Tchiroma (FSN party) and Amadou Moustapha (ANDP) are maintained in government. Bello Bouba is now Minister of State (senior minister) in charge of Tourism.
A symbolic newcomer from the allied parties is UNDP’s Mohamadou Ahidjo who is appointed as a roving ambassador. Ahidjo, was a mayor of the major northern city of Garoua. He is one of the children of former President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Apart from the position of Prime Minister, no Anglophone commands a top ministry. Anglophone ministers include Philip Ngolle Ngwese who is in-charge of Forests and Wildlife where he replaces Elvis Ngolle Ngolle and
See online: Biya Re-shuffles Cameroon Government, Marafa dropped, Ahidjo appointed