Invited to the set of Gabon 1ère for the ritual ‘100-day review‘ program, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Cultural Outreach and Arts, Paul Kessany, calmly submitted to the democratic accountability exercise. Appointed on January 2, 2026, the official presented a dynamic sectoral dashboard showing 62.3% of the 53 projects completed, while 24.5% have an execution rate above 50%.
At a time when the 5th Republic prides itself on having ignited a new momentum, there are actors who can boast of having fully contributed to it. Among them is Paul Ulrich Kessany Zategwa. Indeed, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Cultural Outreach and Arts has strived to leave his mark. First on the youth front, with the establishment of a normalization committee within the National Youth Council of Gabon (CNJG). This regulatory act was just one step in a string of achievements.
Paul Kessany on the path of expected renewal
This is certainly the assumption one can easily have given the visible early results in the terms of reference. In the sports domain, the government member launched a thorough audit which led to the regularization of 13 Olympic federations. This initiative constitutes the first step in a process of overall cleanup of the associative fabric. On the infrastructure front, the Minister of Youth, Sports, Cultural Outreach and Arts has given himself two years to bring the Panthers back to national pitches within two years.
Furthermore, the cultural component stood out with notable legislative and technological advances. Whether it is the modernization of the Gabonese Copyright Office (BUGADA), marked by the swearing-in of 21 agents, or the digitization of 2,250 works, Paul Ulrich Kessany has set the stage to protect national heritage. The decree of May 22, 2026, which now regulates the exploitation of Iboga in the face of international commercial pressure, crowns this journey. Not to mention the country’s diplomatic outreach during FEMUA 18 in Abidjan. A masterstroke that has affirmed his sense of management to this day.
