The duo was installed Wednesday, April 15, 2020 by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief. Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph after he had appointed them on April 3, 2020.

In his installation speech, PM Dion Ngute instructed Tasong and Njong to elaborate the action plan and annual work outline as the reconstruction, rehabilitation and development of the North West and South West Regions takes center stage.

The Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW, was inspired by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya when he “Instructed the creation of a working group at the Prime Minister’s Office which was effectively done on August 1^st 2019, with the responsibility of elaborating the working document for the reconstruction of these regions,” said Dion Ngute.

“In order to execute the important task the working group carried out a wide range of consultations with the populations of the North West and South West regions. The populations expressed their aspirations of seeing their regions reconstructed and for life to return to normalcy.”

On the reconstruction and development spheres, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute noted that: “Three major areas required close attention; the reestablishment of social cohesion, the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and the revamping of the local economy.”

To highlight the importance and weight of the plan, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute recalled that, “On December 5, 2019, a number of diplomatic representations attended the meeting in Yaoundé during which the reconstruction plan was [presented. The diplomats on behalf of their various countries, agreed to support the financing of this plan which was later forwarded to the President of the Republic for his high approval. In a document approved by the Head of State, the Cameroon Government and it multilateral and bilateral partners agreed to mobilize the sum of over 89 billion.”

To the National Coordinator and Deputy National Coordinator, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute reminded them that the task ahead is daunting and demands diligence, hard work and commitment.

“Among the tasks that awaits the newly appointed personalities are; the rehabilitation of about 350 schools, 115 health centers, 40 bridges, 400 power points, 500 KM of Low tension power points, 600KM of rural roads, 45 markets, 12000 houses, 25000hectares of farm land, livestock lost by grazers, reestablishment of close to 3000 personal documents lost.”

The PM acknowledged that the PPRD-NW/SW National Coordinator Minister Paul Tasong contributed significantly to the development of the 10 years reconstruction plan for the North West and South West regions which was presented at the Major National Dialogue and validated after inputs from participants.

He described the two coordinators as emblematic and having a mastery of the two regions. 

In order to match words with actions, PM Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, instructed that, “The National Coordinator and his Deputy, as a matter of urgency should set up a coordination team, prepare the first annual work plan and submit it to the steering committee for its approval.”

The PM then called on the stakeholders involved in the reconstruction exercise to collaborate for the interest of the PPRD-NW/SW.

“I want to call on the ministerial departments concern with reconstruction, to give them their full collaboration for this program considering the particular importance the Head of State attaches to it,” Chief Dr. Dion Ngute said.

Tasong & Njong: The development champions

The National Coordinator, Paul Tasong, is current Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development. Paul Tasong is a Cameroonian, born March 20, 1963 in M’mockmbie in the Lebialem department (South West Region). He is married and has four children.

A graduate of the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) in 1988 (Tax Inspector), Paul Tasong is, among other things, a graduate of the Executive Education Program in Public Finance management, obtained at the University Harvard in 2010; a Masters in public administration management and a diploma in development policy awarded by the Institute for Development Policy and Management at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), in 1996 and 1995 respectively.

Before being promoted to Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, in charge of Planning, on March 02, 2018, Paul TASONG occupied in turn the functions of Commissioner in charge of Department of Economic, Monetary and Financial Policies at the CEMAC Commission (2012-2017); Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Regional Development (2010-2012) and Director of Public Investment Programming at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (2004-2010). In terms of professional qualification, the current MINDEL / MINEPAT has proven expertise in the areas of regional integration policy; Tax policy; Public finance management; Macroeconomic framework; Multilateral surveillance; Business climate monitoring; Monitoring of statistical data; Strategic planning ; Public investment management; and Mobilization of external funding, among others.

Politician, Paul Tasong is since 2016, Head of the Permanent Departmental Delegation of the Central Committee of the Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (RDPC) in Lebialem.

The Deputy National Coordinator, Donatus Njong, is the former SDF Mayor of Kumbo Council. He championed the development of Kumbo for over two decades.

Defence and security forces have been battling armed separatists who seek to make of the North West and South West Regions a state called Ambazonia. Although the crisis which erupted from the demands of Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers is yet to end, Government has decided to engage a reconstruction plan of the restive regions.