Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, founder and CEO of St Louis Clinic and University Institute says Cameroon’s 367 registered political parties have failed to deliver the political and economic transformation the country needs.
In an opinion published on Thursday, August 27, 2026 promoter of the Third Option movement promoter argues that Cameroon’s political problem is not simply the number of parties, but a broader failure to understand the purpose of political power and the foundations of national development.
He questions the idea that democracy alone should be used to measure a country’s progress, arguing that political stability ultimately depends on economic independence and the ability of citizens to create wealth.
“We have failed to understand that wealth creation is the lasting foundation of any nation, as it is the basis of economic independence,” he writes.
Dr. Nick Ngwanyam also criticizes what he describes as Cameroon’s overreliance on academic certificates as a measure of success. He argues that education should go beyond obtaining degrees and should instead equip citizens with practical skills, technology, character and productive capacity.
The social reformer also challenges the way the term “elite” is used in Cameroon. He says society often reserves the label for politicians, senior civil servants, contractors and highly educated professionals while overlooking farmers, traders and ordinary citizens who create value in their communities.
As an example, he points to a widowed mother who starts a small business and uses the proceeds to educate her children, arguing that such individuals should also be recognized for their contribution to society.
Dr. Nick Ngwanyam links these misconceptions to wider governance challenges, including the prolonged crisis in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions. He questions whether the country’s political and administrative responses have adequately addressed the underlying grievances.
He also calls for greater emphasis on local production and import substitution. Cameroon, he argues, should invest more heavily in agriculture, livestock, technology and industry rather than relying heavily on imported goods.
The role of the diaspora is another key part of his argument. Dr. Nick Ngwanyam says Cameroonians abroad possess skills, capital and ideas that could contribute to national development if they are given greater space to participate.
The UF-TRP Proposal
As part of his proposed solution, Dr. Nick Ngwanyam is promoting the United Federal–Third Republic Party (UF-TRP). He proposes reducing the number of political parties and creating a broader platform capable of bringing together progressive ideas from across the political spectrum.
He suggests that the ruling CPDM could eventually transform into the UF-TRP, which he envisions as a national political movement bringing together Cameroonians from different regions, generations and backgrounds.
He points to Singapore under former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as a model Cameroon could study, particularly in the areas of education, discipline, skills development, technology, industrialisation and wealth creation.
For Dr. Nick Ngwanyam, the priority is to shift Cameroon from a culture of consumption and dependency towards production and economic self-reliance.
His proposed formula is straightforward, insisting that education should produce skills, skills should drive industry, industry should create wealth, and wealth should strengthen economic independence.
Whether the UF-TRP can translate these ideas into a viable political program remains to be seen. But Dr. Nick Ngwanyam’s intervention adds another voice to the growing debate over Cameroon’s political system, economic future and the role of political parties in national development.
@Laarry Times
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