As Cameroon prepares for the 2025 presidential election, one issue looms larger than most: the economy. For millions of Cameroonians, debates about democracy, peace, or governance often narrow down to a simple question whixh is can we afford to live tomorrow? Rising food prices, limited jobs, and a sluggish pace of industrial growth have combined to make the economy both a daily struggle and a national crisis. Any candidate seeking the highest office must confront this reality with clear answers and credible solutions.
Despite these difficulties, there are glimmers of hope. According to the US Department of State’s 2022 Investment Climate Statement, Cameroon’s gross domestic product (GDP) was projected by the IMF to increase by 4.6 percent in 2022, reflecting signs of recovery from the COVID-19 recession. This growth, while modest, indicates that Cameroon’s economy is capable of resilience if structural issues are addressed.
Inflation has steadily eroded household incomes in recent years. A kilo of rice, bread, cooking oil, and other basic goods that once seemed affordable now weigh heavily on family budgets. The National Institute of Statistics estimates inflation hovered above 7% in 2024, well above the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) convergence threshold of 3%. In markets from Bamenda to Bertoua, traders testify to dwindling customers as purchasing power continues to shrink.
“Everything has gone up, but salaries have stayed the same. We are surviving, not living.” Esther Nyuyki from Nso , a secondary school teacher and media worker now based in Bafoussam tells hilltopvoices in Marche A.
This mismatch between stagnant wages and rising prices is deepening inequality and fuelling frustration, particularly among urban youth who feel excluded from the formal economy.
Cameroon’s youth represent both its greatest resource and its most pressing challenge. According to the International Labour Organisation, more than 60% of young people are either unemployed or underemployed, often trapped in precarious informal jobs such as motorbike riding, street vending, or odd construction work. The State Department report notes that only about 15 percent of Cameroonians have access to formal banking services, underlining the dominance of informal financial systems and the urgent need for inclusive reforms.
The government has launched several initiatives from the National Employment Fund to special youth programmes but results remain limited. A 2025 World Bank assessment concluded that structural barriers such as bureaucracy, lack of financing for small businesses, and corruption in recruitment processes continue to discourage genuine job creation.
For many young Cameroonians, hope now lies outside the country. Migration, both regular and irregular, has become an escape route, with thousands risking their lives across the desert and Mediterranean in search of opportunity.
Cameroon calls itself “Africa in miniature”, rich in resources from fertile agricultural lands to oil and gas reserves. Yet the country imports more finished products than it exports, a paradox that underscores weak industrialisation. Manufacturing contributes less than 15% of GDP, compared to more diversified economies in the region.
Local entrepreneurs complain about high taxes, poor infrastructure, unreliable electricity, and limited access to credit.
“We cannot build factories if we spend half our profits fuelling generators,” Sylas, a based manufacturer of industrial machines told Hilltopvoices.
The US Department of State notes that Cameroon’s telecommunications, transport infrastructure, and ports remain underdeveloped or in need of upgrades, further constraining industrial growth and trade.
Candidates must therefore answer a fundamental question: how will Cameroon move from a consumption-based economy to one that produces, exports, and adds value locally?
Economic growth and industrialisation are intimately tied to governance. The State Department warns that corruption and weak governance continue to hamper Cameroon’s business climate, limiting the impact of otherwise promising investment opportunities. Any credible economic plan must confront these structural barriers and implement reforms to make the environment more conducive to private sector-led growth.
The economy, unlike many other campaign promises, cannot be wrapped in slogans. It requires tough choices, a vision, and clear action plans. Key questions presidential candidates should be talking about include:
- How will they curb inflation and protect household incomes?
- What is their roadmap for job creation, particularly for youth and women?
- What industrialisation strategy will reduce dependency on imports and strengthen local production?
- How will they tackle corruption and bureaucracy that choke small and medium enterprises?
- What reforms are needed to stabilise public finances while still funding education, healthcare, and infrastructure?
The US Department of State notes that Cameroon’s 2020–2030 National Development Strategy, backed by an IMF $689.5 million programme approved in 2021, is intended to advance structural fiscal reforms and improve governance. Candidates must clarify how they will build upon these foundations to make tangible improvements in citizens’ daily lives.
Cameroon’s economy is not without opportunities. Its strategic location in Central Africa, abundant natural resources, and resilient population offer a base for growth. But without bold reforms, the cycle of inflation, joblessness, and underdevelopment will persist.
As campaigning intensifies, it is not enough for candidates to recite growth figures or macroeconomic jargon. What Cameroonians want to know is simple: will the next president make the economy work for the people?
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Newsroom
Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com
Tel: 6 94 71 85 77
Bakah Derick is an award-winning Cameroonian journalist and mediapreneur, serving as Vice President in charge of International Relations at the Cameroon Journalists’ Trade Union and leading Hilltopvoices Communications Group Ltd to amplify community voices and governance issues. With nearly 20 years in the field, his impactful reporting spanning human rights, environmental protection, inclusive development, and sports has earned him prestigious honors such as the 2024 VIIMMA Humanitarian Reporter of the Year and more. Email: debakah2004@gmail.com Tel: +237 675 460 750
🟦 Five Key Economic Questions Voters Should Ask
- Inflation Protection: How will the next president curb rising prices and ensure households can afford basic goods?
- Job Creation: What concrete plans exist to create jobs for youth and women, particularly in the formal economy?
- Industrialisation: How will Cameroon move from importing goods to producing, exporting, and adding value locally?
- Corruption & Governance: What steps will be taken to fight corruption, streamline bureaucracy, and make business and finance more accessible?
- Fiscal Reform & Social Spending: How will public finances be stabilised while still funding education, healthcare, and infrastructure development?