MONROOVIA: The Cameroonian Ambassador to Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, H.E. BENG’YELA AUGUSTINE GANG, has cautioned citizens of Cameroon, Guinean, Sierra Leone and Liberia to embraced the wisdom of peace and national unity advocacy of Liberia’s President, George Manneh Weah, as such advocacy applies to citizens and residents of the four countries.
Speaking on 20, May, 2023, at program marking the Observance of 51st Anniversary of National Unity Day of the Republic of Cameroon, held at the Boulevard Place Hotel in Sinkor, Ambassador GANG pointed out that as Liberia prepares for its 10, October, 2023, General Election, “we must similarly encourage all stakeholders-especially the social media and the dynamic, influential media to encourage dialogue and to avoid belligerent hate speech and journalistic brinkmanship.”
He, however, lauded the Supreme Court of Liberia and the National Elections Commission to firmly defend fairness and equity and also applauded the political will to ensure peace as it was demonstrated by party’s leaders via the revised Farmington Declaration on April 4, 2023.
Amb. Gang noted that, such commitments, if not treated as a mere formality, ensure hope of an exemplary electoral outcome, incontestable for all Liberians, adding that they at the Diplomatic Corps continue to actively monitor and accompany the process.
At the internal level, the Ambassador said, “the peace sought by Cameroon should allow us to focus our resources on training and education of our youth.”
“The Government has, historically placed a high premium on this ideal. The ultimate aim remains to make home grounded agriculture and transformation, food self-sufficiency, information technology as well as strong local engagement in investment, enterprise and trade, the solid foundation for the inclusive, sustainable development and growth of Cameroon,” he stressed.
The Diplomat indicated that Cameroon is the economic and diplomatic locomotive in the CEMAC Region.
“ Under President William V. S. TUBMAN, Liberia was the first State to recognize Cameroon’s Independence in the 1960.
Cameroon, therefore, rightly presumes that President WEAH is, by a tweak of sports history, among the political leaders most aware of what binds us together and most well placed to now re-establish Liberia’s diplomatic representation in Yaounde to pre-war Ambassadorial level. President Paul BIYA has done his part,” the Ambassador emphasized.
“Our Ambassador would support greater endeavor by pioneering investors from our two countries, therefore I encourage the few Liberians and Cameroonians who have already ventured in both directions, to hold firm,” he said.
The Cameroonian Ambassador added that Liberia and Cameroon are both lead regional actors in environmental protection and ecologically sustainable development because Cameroon is part of the Congo Forest basin with over 30 percent of the World’s forest coverage.
“As we continue our duty in the natural protection of the world’s bio system, we also pay attention to the damage to our global eco-system by ecologically insensitive industrialization and welfare, across the globe,” he noted.
He said in mid-May, Cameroon’s Minister of Agriculture, in liaison with the International Institute of Tropical Timber (IITA), the UN Environment program, the University of California, farmers representative organizations, trade and scientific experts met in Yaoundé’ to address the challenges to household food sufficiency, increase in employment, higher income for rural producers as these ideals relate to the obligation to respect the natural environment.
Speaking further, the top Cameroonian diplomat indicated that May 20th is a glorification of Cameroon’s solemn devotion to peace, national unity, integration, and harmony for wholesome socio-economic development.
The theme for this 51st National Day: “Defense Forces and the Cameroonian People in Harmony to Safeguard Peace and National Unity; Bedrock of a Strong and Prosperous Cameroon is tailored to fit our national context,” he told the gathering.
According to the Cameroonian Ambassador, President George WEAH advised on 14 May 2023 that Unification Day gives Liberians (and I quote) “occasion to rally around…government, transcending political and ideological differences.”
This wisdom perfectly applies to Cameroon’s National Day celebration,” Ambassador GANG stressed, among other things..