Cameroon:New Prime Minister Is Philemon Yang

By Christopher Ambe Shu
Philemon Yunji Yang,(pictured) aged 62, a career magistrate was yesterday June 30 appointed by President Paul Biya to serve as Cameroon’s new Prime Minister and Head of Government, to replace Ephraim Inoni, who occupied that office since December 8, 2004। Before his new appointment, Mr. Yang, a soft-spoken native of Bui Division of the Northwest region of Cameroon, was assistant Secretary-General No.1 (with rank of minister) of Presidency of the Republic
Before his appointment as Assistant Secretary-General at the Presidency in December 2004,Mr. Yang served as Cameroon’s Ambassador and later High Commissioner to Canada for record twenty years (1984 to 2004), during which period he dutifully served as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada for about ten years.
Mr. Yang read law at the University of Yaounde(he holds LLB and LLM )and later trained as a career magistrate at EMAM Yaounde.
In 1975, he was serving as state prosecutor at the Court of Appeal in Buea when, on June 30 same year, he was first appointed to join Government as Vice-Minister of Territorial Administration. From November 8, 1979 to February 4,1984 Mr. Yang served as Minster of Mines and Energy, before his appointment as Ambassador to Canada, where he represented and defended Cameroon’s interests for two decades.
Even before his appointment as Prime Minister yesterday, press reports had in past several years since his return to Cameroon from Canada mentioned his name as one of Biya’s favorite candidates for the post of PM.
Generally described as shrew and tactful politician, Mr. Yang was born on June 14, 1947 in Oku, Bui division of the Northwest region.
He is married and has children.
NB: June has proven to be Mr। Yang’s luckiest month and June 30,his luckiest day. He was born in June; first joined Government on June 30,1975 and on June 30,2009, he was appointed to head the government ।

Other June 30 2009 presidential appointments that followed that of the PM are:
Minister of State in charge of Transport –Mr Bello Bouba Maigari

Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense – Mr Mebe Ngo’o Edgard Alain Minister of Post and Telecommunication – Mr Biyiti Bi Essam Jean Pierre

Minster of State Property and Land Tenure - Mr Beleoken Jean -

Minister of Communication -Mr Isa Tchiroma Bakary

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family- Madam Abena Ondoa nee Obama Marie Therese

Minister of Basic Education - Mme Youssouf NEE Adidja Alim

Minister of Water and Energy- Ngako Tomdio Michael

Minister of Sports and Physical Education- Zoah Micheal

Minister Delegate at Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development- Mme Ananga Messina nee Beyene Clemantine Antoinette

Secretary of State at the Ministry of Secondary Education- Mounouna Foutsou
Deputy Secretaries General at the Presidency of the Republic:
-Mr Agbor Tabi Peter

-Mr Fouda Seraphin Magloire
Minister in charge of special Duties at the Presidency - Rene Sadi
Roving Ambassadors at the Presidency :
-Mr Ferdinard OYONO Mr Maikano Abdoulaly
Director of Civil Cabinet at the Presidency:Mr Belinga Eboutou Martin
Minister in charge of missions at the civil cabinet of the presidency : Mr Bille Bidjang Martin
Special Adviser at the Presidency: Mr Sindjoun Luc