Speaking at the Gecam Ordinary General Assembly in Douala on June 23, 2026, Célestin Tawamba underscored the critical barriers to investment within a nation like Cameroon.

During the Gecam Ordinary General Assembly, Célestin Tawamba, the president of Gecam, offered a comprehensive assessment of the current challenging state of the national economy. He emphasized, “In a global landscape where economies fiercely compete to attract capital, talent, and technology, the caliber of governance has emerged as a pivotal determinant of competitiveness.”

According to Tawamba, discerning investors meticulously evaluate a country’s fundamental infrastructure. “They scrutinize energy supply and its associated costs. They examine the tax framework. But, above all, they assess a nation’s capacity to make decisions, execute plans, and honor its commitments. Investment flows into a country that acts decisively, not one that procrastinates. It is on this crucial ground that a significant portion of Cameroon’s economic future will be forged. And it is within this arena that Gecam will continue to contribute with unwavering responsibility, independence, and patriotism,” he elaborated.

For Tawamba, the fundamental question is no longer about identifying what actions are necessary. “The pertinent inquiry now is: How can we accelerate progress? How can we enhance efficiency? And, most importantly, how can we achieve measurable outcomes? The era of diagnosis must progressively transition into a period of vigorous execution… The time for mere intentions must give way to tangible realizations, and the moment for promises must evolve into a phase of concrete results,” the Gecam president asserted.

He further contended that Cameroon currently faces a distinctive predicament, characterized by a pervasive “wait-and-see” attitude that ultimately impacts the entire economic ecosystem. “Momentous, structuring decisions are becoming infrequent. Arbitrations are protracted. Projects, even when initiated, advance at a pace slower than optimal. Administrative bodies often prioritize caution over proactive initiative, and economic operators navigate an environment where foresight becomes increasingly elusive with each passing day. This prevailing situation inevitably erodes investor confidence and dampens the morale of business leaders,” he concluded.