The Minister of Finance, Louis Paul MOTAZE, exhorts various stakeholders during the official launch of the State budget and other Public entities, which stands at 7,317. 7 billion CFA francs, on January 15, 2025, in Buea the regional capital of the South West. Compared to that of 2024 which stood at 7,278.1 billion CFA francs, there is an increase this year of 39.6 billion in absolute value and 0.5% in relative value. According to the Minister, the finance law has been enforceable and executable since January 1, 2025.
He added that, the launching exercise is an opportunity for the various stakeholders involved in the budget execution to be abreast on how to achieve maximum results. He went further that, efficient implementation of the Finance Law presupposes the introduction of appropriate systems and procedures which, the budget implementation circular provides the guidelines. To buttress the implementation of the budget by Local Authorities, is a circular together with a manual of specific procedures relating thereto. That these tools are a veritable teaching guide, at the disposal of all stakeholders in order to provide a framework for the execution of revenue and expenditure nationwide. Reason why the Minister of Finance, exhorts all stakeholders for maximum results in the execution of the budget.
As host for this year’s budget launch, the Minister saluted the implementation of public investments in the region, as satisfactory over the years. Concretely, that the physical completion rate of projects was 73.62% for 2022, 91.40 for 2023 and while in September 2024, was already 72.81%. He attributes the achievements to proof of professionalism of the various actors in the budget execution chain which reflects the patriotism of the majority of the service providers selected.
On the sideline of the Minister’s visit to Buea, he paid a courtesy visit to the Bishop of Buea Diocese, Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi. Reacting to the visit the Bishop said that, he was pleased that the Minister is visiting Buea to launch the budget. That, the budget is very important to every institution, nation and that after the budget was approved by the Parliament and Senate, we are happy the South West region and Buea was chosen for the launching. He wished that the launching takes place smoothly. That after the launch, the implementation should be perfectly carried out such that the various components of the budget should be realized in such a way that at the end of the year, every Cameroonian will be happy that the budget was drawn, launched in Buea and everything moved on smoothly.
Regarding the implementation, he adds that the budget is going to have different areas of implementation. But that, he wished that areas like roads should be taken good care of, considering the poor states of our road network but that if they are taken care of, most Cameroonians will be happy. He added that, he discussed with the Minister about the 48th annual Bishops Conference which took place in Buea. Another area which they discussed about was on tax exoneration on goods imported by the Church for evangelism and, financial assistance which he said that the Minister has been assisting immensely. The launching exercise took place at the Conference hall of the Moliko Cathedral.
