Mustapha Ngouana argues that Cameroon has normalized broken promises and unmet commitments

The Cameroonian legal practitioner, appearing on the television program “Right of Reply,” painted a stark picture of a nation where presidential commitments rarely translate into action. Ngouana emphasized how this pattern of unfulfilled pledges has become deeply embedded in the country’s political culture, eroding public trust in leadership.

“The President of the Republic of Cameroon has repeatedly made decisions with deadlines that were never respected,” Ngouana stated during the broadcast. “Take the Africa Cup of Nations as an example: the President promised the tournament would proceed on schedule, yet it did not. Similarly, when the President turned 50, he pledged to organize the 50th anniversary of reunification in 2011. Instead, the celebrations took place three years later in 2014.”

The discussion centered on the theme “Broken Trust: Public Opinion Confronts Unkept Promises,” a topic Ngouana explored by dissecting what he described as the administration’s “permanent missteps.”

“I believe the President’s governance is characterized by persistent missteps,” he asserted. “Our country is at a standstill. When people speak of poor governance, I think they are being charitable. What we’re actually experiencing is a complete absence of governance. Cameroon is operating on autopilot.”