Cameroon budget proposals for 1985/86
Kwaw Ashiakwei, Yaounde
The government's concern for social and rural developments is reflected in the allocation of CFA 230,000 million in investment projects.The President of Cameroon, Paul Biya, presented a CFA 740,000 million francs annual appropriations bill of austerity and continuity to the National Assembly on Saturday 15 June, 1985. In a budget speech which lasted for slightly over an hour, and which was constantly interrupted with a series of applause, the President reiterated his commitment to the New Deal Policy - described as the panacea for the survival of the country.
The healthy political atmosphere which prevails in Cameroon favours foreign investment and has contributed immeasurably to the recorded success in the industrial sector, President Biya said, and further attributed the significant increase in the volume of investment to the indefatigability of Cameroonian and foreign businessmen who appear to have embraced the New Deal Policy of stringency, rigour and moralisation.
The proposals christened "the budget for Brighter Times" have been prepared to ensure a high growth rate of the economy as well as rapid development of vital projects in the areas of health, road and air transportation, housing etc. The highlights of the budget speech include the following:
The President's promise to guarantee the independence, security, unity and integration of the nation
- Dangers associated with uncontrolled freedom
- Exhortation to the youth and elite to embrace farming
- Recruitment of 1500 fresh University graduates
- Construction of more low cost houses.
According to available statistics the Cameroon economy grew at the rate of 20% during the 1982/1983 fiscal year while per capita Gross Domestic Product increased by a substantial 17.6%, an indication of government's efforts to encourage industrialisation. There has been a steady growth of economic investment since the 1979/80 fiscal year. In 1979/80 there was a growth of 20.5% which increased to 25.9% in 1982/83, a net income of 5.4% over a period of three years..
The nation's exports earnings which increased by over 13% as opposed to a lower rise in imports (about 8%) have resulted in a positive and surplus trade balance of CFA 200,000 million francs.
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
The President expressed satisfaction with the level of agricultural production and remarked that there has been a better agricultural season this year than in the previous year (1983/84). Cocoa production for instance increased from a production figure of 108,910 tonnes in 1983/84 to 115,000 tonnes by 30 April 1985, and an anticipated increase of 50% is expected in the production of arabica coffee, while the production of other cash crops such as banana, rubber, cotton and pineapples was also encouraging and satisfactory.
President Biya however expressed regret that there was no recorded improvement in the forestry, livestock and fishery industries which situation, he said, was attributed to the same mitigating factors which hampered growth in these sectors in the previous years. He was however optimistic that primary production would continue to increase during the next couple of years. The President stated that agriculture would be diversified and mechanized to cater for the ever-growing population and the high rate of urbanisation in the nation.
His Excellency exhorted the youth and the elite in the society to embrace modern farming as their contribution to the development of the agrarian policy of the government.
Housing in Cameroon appears to have been neglected for some time now. The government realises this weakness and neglect of this sector and has appropriately decided to step up the construction of low cost housing units in all the provinces to provide accommodation for the ever increasing population.
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL
The President announced a budget sum of CFA 740,000 million francs for the 1985/96 financial year which repre- sents an increase of 19.3% over the previous year's budgetary figure and is to be funded from the nation's resources.
A recurrent expenditure which represents 58% of the overall budget figure is pegged at CFA 430,000 million francs. This increase is attributed to the government's determination to ensure uninterrupted economic growth.
The President further announced a contingency vote of CFA 102,000 million francs for the funding of special projects of general and national interest and went further to caution heads of government departments to exhibit considerable restraint in the financial administration of their outfits to eliminate waste and curb the rampant incidence of embezzlement of public funds by their officials.
The government of the New Deal which attaches non-negotiable importance and priority to public investment has allocated CFA 310,000 million francs to this sector for the 1985/86 fiscal year. This sum repre- sents an increase of about 40% over the previous year's allocation and is about 42% of the total budget figures for the year.
INVESTMENT
This government's concern for social and rural development is reflected in the allocation of CFA 230,000 million francs in projects. The figure represents a substantial increase of 45% over the previous year's figure of CFA 160,000 million francs. The sum of CFA 46,000 million francs out of the investment budget has been allocated for the construction of vital structures in the areas of road, airport, seaport and telecommunications. This amount may however prove inadequate to match government determination to step up food production and its transportation to the urban areas to feed the growing population there.
HOUSING
Housing in Cameroon appears to have been neglected for some time now. The capital, Yaounde spots a considerable number of slum areas which over- shadow the beauty of the metropolis. The government realises this weakness and neglect of this sector and has appropriately decided to step up the construction of low cost housing units in all provinces to provide accommodation for the ever increasing population.
EMPLOYMENT
The President allayed the fears of fresh and future University graduates when he informed the assembly of govern- ment plans to absorb 1,500 fresh University graduates in various outfits during the budget period. He further exhorted the private sector and the young graduates to be innovative at creating jobs to supplement government efforts and assured such people of government unalloyed support in their direction.
HEALTH
In the area of the provision of health facilities for the benefit of Cameroonians the President drew the nation's attention to the work currently in progress in Doula and Yaounde general hospitals and the extension and renovation works of existing health posts spread throughout the country. He expressed optimism about the ability of the Ministry of Health to equip the health posts with modern medical facilities and drugs.
Finally he reiterated that although the New Deal Policy encourages democratization the exercise of unlimited freedom by the citizens could have a destabilising effect on the smooth administration of the country and exhorted Cameroonians to exhibit restraint in the exercise of their democratic rights. Finally he made a passionate appeal to all Cameroonians to contribute their quota to the building of a viable and happy Cameroon.