Regional Balance and National Integration in Cameroon: Lessons Learned and the Uncertain Future

6. The Government Social Policy and National Integration

91 Chapter Six The Government’s Social Policy And National Integration Aloysius Ajab Amin In Cameroon, the 1960s through to the mid 1980s were periods of rapid economic growth supported by high agriculture and petroleum production. The gross domestic product grew at an average rate of 8.5 %; this was far above the population growth rate of below 3%. The good economic performance provided the government with a good source of government revenues and opportunity to carry out worthwhile expenditures especially on public goods and those that generate positive externalities and create cohesive effects such as education and health. However, it seems that the government did not use these opportunities to properly develop its social sector for regional balance and national integration. Declining Economy Since the late 80s, the main economic indicators have worsened; consequently, the standard of living of the average Cameroonian had been falling. This is therefore bound to increase the level of poverty, inequality and consequently, an increased number of the poor with increased tension between and among the regional and national groups. As it stand prior to the 80s, high economic growth did not help in eradicating poverty nor giving any preferable and equitable income distribution which have positive impact on the social sector such as education and health. Since 1986 the economy has declined, due to both external and internal factors. The external factors were the drop in the export prices, decline in petroleum production and consequently fall in the government’s revenue and increase in public debt, both domestic and external debts. The internal factors were mainly structural which were complicated by management problems. The demand for labour has also fallen, thereby limiting employment and income possibilities. The 1993 civil servants’ salary cuts and 1994 CFA devaluation went to worsen the situation as this has been followed by continuous budgetary cuts that have severely affected the social sector. All this has tended to increase the level of poverty, regional imbalance and 92 consequently, regional and ethnic tensions. The formal sector has contracted as the informal sector expands. For example, in 1983, 65% of the total workers were salaried workers. This fell to 63% in 1987 and to below 50% in 1993 (World Bank 1995). With the worsening of the economic situation, the informal sector has become the main provider of jobs; since 1992 out of every five new jobs created, four are in the informal sector (DIAI 1993). These jobs have provided and are still providing, very low rewards despite the long working hours. The fiscal cuts have affected the social sector, much to the detriment of the poor. Much of the cuts have been made in materials, supplies, and in development projects of the social sector. The public facilities are becoming very poor. In fact, the education and health facilities are not only needing maintenance and development, they are deteriorating. The type of strong highly centralized government institutions is partly reflected in marked regional differences in the allocation of resources which have strongly disfavoured the social sector as well as the rural areas. Diversity and the Government’s Role Cameroon’s regional, linguistic, ecologic and ethnic diversity are as striking as its potentials in natural and human endowments. These should have constructively and strategically been used as building blocks of a strong nation since they are the main input or resources into national building. Yet they could be poorly managed, thus generating tensions and explosive situations among the regional ethnic groups. The exploitation of the endowments for the benefit of all citizens and regions is the function of public policy and the managers of public resources. While one can reaffirm that state goals include ensuring the material wellbeing of its citizens, meeting the basic human needs of all regions and sectors of the country, it must be stated that these goals may be contrary to the effective accommodation of the regional and ethnic diversity. However stressing on regional balance does not override other policy objectives. The competence of the state is therefore reflected in the collective management of the national economy as well as accommodating regional and ethnic differences. Although in many countries, it can be assumed that policies on regional differences or ethnic diversity are discussed and formulated in open political competition where policy outcomes are the product of political framework. Even in situations where the State takes into consideration its 93 citizens’ opinions in policy formulation and implementation, the...