The 18th edition of the National Bilingualism Week, under the theme “Bilingualism, a window to cultures and technologies, a human capital development tool for the emergence of Cameroon”, was launched last Monday and runs from 30 January to 3 February 2023. This key policy adopted by the government of Cameroon is enshrined in Law No. 2019/019 of 24 December 2019 on the promotion of official languages in Cameroon.

In his opening remark during the first ordinary session of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism on 26 January 2023, its Chairperson Peter Mafany Musonge, emphasised that “allocated resources will be used for the effective implementation of programmes contained in the 2023 action plan of the Commission, which amongst other things, will be to ensure the operationalization of their regional offices.” In addition, the commission is charged with promoting bilingualism and social cohesion as well as combating hate speech in the society.

Another mission bestowed on this institution by the President of the Republic is to ensure that administrative documents are produced in the two official languages by Ministries and other State institutions. To that effect, several field missions were carried out by the Commission in 2022, an activity that will be intensified as stated in the 2023 action plan.

The Cameroon National Shippers’ Council (CNSC), an administrative public establishment, has since the introduction of the law on bilingualism resolved to promote bilingualism and multiculturalism. Besides the strict implementation of recommended actions such as the production of its publications (The Shipper’s Newsletter, The CNSC Book of Statistics, CNCC News, The National Transport Year Book, etc.) and websites in both official languages, the CNSC relaunched its language training program last year. This is a programme that offers employees the opportunity to learn either the English or the French language in any linguistic centre, all expenses paid for by the establishment.