CENPA knights Dr Fomunyoh for crusading good governance, democracy

Laureate dedicates Man of The Year Award to Cameroonian youth, marginalised populations
Erudite global Cameroonian good governance and democracy champion, Dr Christopher Fomunyoh, has clinched another distinct recognition worthy of his push for people-focused leadership. The Senior Associate and Regional Director for West and Central Africa at the Washington-based National Democratic Institute, NDI, is winner of the highly sought-after Man of The Year Award. It is a recognition from the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association,CENPA. Dr Fomunyoh’s recognition was unveiled at a heavily attended ceremony, which took place at Hilton Hotel in Yaounde on Thursday, July 25. The event had in attendance several members of government, leaders of civil society, diplomats and others from several walks of life.

Dr Jude Mutah of the National Endowment of Democracy represented Dr. Fomunyoh at the event. He flew in from Washington DC, United States of America, to receive the award on behalf of Dr. Fomunyoh. Why Dr Fomunyoh won According to CENPA, the golden recognition for Dr. Fomunyoh this season is “for being a consistent prime character in crusading good governance, advancement of democracy, raising citizens’ awareness for political engagement that has stirred renewed interest in policies among Cameroonians ahead of the 2025 presidentials”
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No-nonsense jury He was declared after a thorough vetting process. The CENPA award jury comprised: International lawyer and anticorruption icon, the revered Barrister Akere Muna; Senator Nfon Mukete IV, Paramount Ruler of the Bafaw and King of Kumba; Esther Omam, Executive Director of the Non- Governmental Organisation, NGO, Reach Out Cameroon and Ngah Christian Mbipgo, Publisher/Editor- in-Chief of The Guardian Post. To note that Dr. Fomunyoh has made his mark for decades, shaping democracy, addressing dicey issues across several African countries and other parts of the world.
The multiple award-winning Dr. Fomunyoh was in May this year given another global role as Special Adviser to the President of NDI, Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes. Dr Fomunyoh expresses gratitude In a pre-recorded message, Dr. Fomunyoh, who was unavoidably absent, expressed gratitude to those who weighed his works and exploits worthy of such recognition. “ …from the bottom of my heart, I want to express my appreciation and gratitude to the members of CENPA for their nomination and to the dis- tinguished jury for its unanimous decision, ” Dr Fomunyoh remarked, adding that: “I am humbled by this gesture, especially when I think about the extremely difficult and challenging environment in which our journalists and publishers work”
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Appeals for more support to the press Besides thanking the press for efforts “to make sure the citizens are informed, not just about policies but also issues of social wellbeing that impact their livelihoods on a daily basis” , Dr. Fomunyoh also sent a message to stakeholders to support the media. “This is not an opportunity for me to talk to you about press freedom because I know how much each and every one of you is committed to that principle of democratic governance, ” he went on. He also restated that: “My hope, my prayer, my wish is that authorities, as well as development partners, should continue to do more and enhance their generosity to make sure that journalists continue to work to continue to succeed and thrive”
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Hails resilience of Anglophone journalists CENPA’s 2023 Man of The Year also appreciated “the work that is being done by Anglophone journalists in this country and to acknowledge the fact that their incredible contribution is giving hope to millions of our fellow citizens who
have lost hope because of the pending crisis in the North West and South West Regions”
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He was particular about “their shear tenacity and their resilience, they continue to publish and to give an opportunity for citizens to be bet- ter informed”
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Dedicates award to youth, marginalised populations The NDI senior official said youth are ripe enough to take over from the older generation. On that score, Dr Fomunyoh declared that: “It is therefore to you, other youth and other marginalized populations of our country that I dedicate this award”
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He equally call for all and sundry to work towards giving young people more opportunities to excel so as to “give them a sense of a better future not just locally but also glob- ally around the world.
Dr Fumunyoh moving from glory to glory irrespective of his charged global engagement, Dr Fomunyoh has shown special interest in advancing democracy in Cameroon.Across the years, he has been con- sistent in giving inspiring insights in a bid to raise the awareness of citi- zens in relations to governance, elections among other issues.
Not long ago, he made known his readiness to put his celebrated expertise at the disposal of other compatriots who are pushing for change in Cameroon.
Through that outing, Dr Fomunyoh whom many have rather been hoping was going to run for the office of the President of the Republic rather confirmed that, he is willing to work alongside others ahead of the 2025 presidential election. He had said a few weeks ago that this support would be “working beside them will be to accompany/support with the expertise I have in good governance and
democracy”
Dr Fomunyoh has been a committed and productive advocate of democracy, good governance, peace and conflict resolution among other responsibilities he has been given.
In the last two decades, he has been serving as a member of the senior management of NDI. The global award-winning governance best practices champion has also been part of the Senior Management Committee of NDI for several years. Dr Fomunyoh is also Co-Chair of NDI’s Global Diversity Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee. This is an additional portfolio he has been holding since 2020. Outstanding contribution to democracy in Africa in countries such as The Gambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Nigeria, Liberia among others, Dr Fomunyoh’s first-class footprints in enhancing democracy and inclusive governance are acclaimed regularly. Dr Fomunyoh is on record for the good reasons for putting his expertise in these countries and more, consulting parliaments, Heads of State, political actors, civil society, elections management entities and other influential country-specific voices to ensure democracy thrives. Across Africa, the Cameroonian global jewel has also been the fore- runner of major initiatives that have birthed peace and good governance.
We can cite the African Statesmen Initiative. Under this framework, he engaged former democratically elected presidents to enhance peaceful democratic governance. Dr Fomunyoh is also credited with having created the Regional Initiative on Constitutionalism and Rule of Law. Thanks to the platform, he made the respect of presidential term limits a standard in countries such as South Africa, Kenya and Guinea.
The orderly and peaceful transfer of power in most of these countries are highly visible in Dr. Fomunyoh’s basket of honour as NDI Senior Associate for West and Central Africa. Dr Fomunyoh’s integrity begets honour Given his impeccable integrity and positive political transformative agenda across Africa and beyond, many have continued to seek his services.
Some of these have manifested in different requests from leaders of countries across the world. Dr Fomunyoh was mentor on former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Center for Women’s Leadership in Africa. Dr Fomunyoh is Goodwill for Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy’s “Grain From Ukraine” humanitarian initiative. Dr Fomunyoh at one time served as Adjunct Professor of African Politics at Georgetown University and the African Center for Strategic Studies, ACSS.

Source: By Maxcel Fokwen

The Guardian Post No 3183

Monday July 29, 2024