Brief Bio of Cameroon's Prime minister: Chief Inoni Ephraim

Mr Inoni Ephraim was appointed to the honorary, but nonetheless, prestigious post of Prime minister, on the 4th of December 2004. The post of Prime minister, is one those flashy posts of responsibility, that in Cameroon, the majority French-speaking government in Yaoundé, earmarks for Anglophone Cameroonians, who it must be stressed, can never be nominated to head any strategic posts in the country. Some strategic posts of responsibilities barred to Anglophone Cameroonians, are: Defence, Finance and Territorial administration (Home affairs) ministries. Before his appointment in 2004, it was rumoured in 1996 that, he was slated to replace Prime Minister Simon Achidi Achu MP, another Anglophone, who was from the North West province and who to forego his post, because of reasons earlier mentioned. Mr Inoni also doubles as the traditional head of the village of Idenao, located in West coast. West coast is a region and also an electoral constituency, that is not far from the post city of Victoria. Chief Inoni Ephraim was born on the 16th of August 1947 in Victoria, South west province. He is a graduate of Saint Paul College, Bonjongo, Buea and Regina Pacis College of Mutengene. Both secondary schools are located in the South West province. After his secondary education, he furthered his studies at the Ecole Nationale d’administration et de la Magistrature (ENAM) in Yaoundé and graduated in 1977.

He has held several top responsibilities within the civil service of his country. He has worked as Chief Accountant at the provincial Treasury in Bamenda, provincial capital of the North West province (1979-81). From Bamenda, he was appointed as the deputy Inspector general of Treasury of the Littoral province, with headquarters in Douala, the provincial capital. In Douala, he became the municipal Treasurer, a post he held from 1981-82. From Douala, he was appointed Treasurer of the Cameroons Embassy in Washington DC (1982-84). In the United States, he registered for a Masters Degree course at the Southern Eastern University, where he graduated with an MBA in Public Administration. Until his appointment as Prime minister in 2004, he held the posts of first deputy secretary general at the Presidency of the Republic1994-97. Prior to working at the presidency, he was, Director of sales at the ministry of Finance in 1984-88. He is also member of the Board of Directors of the formerly state owned utility: SONEL now called AESSONEL, since it was privatised. He was also member of the board of directors of the now liquidated Cameroon Bank. He is currently the chair of the Board of Directors of Standard Chartered Bank, Cameroon. Prime Minister Inoni Ephraim is a practising Christian and precisely member of the Cameroon Anglican Church. He attends service every Sunday. He is married and father of four Children. His wife’s name is Lydia Nalova Litumbe. She holds a Bachelors of Science[1].

[1] Pages B-107 , Cameroun- les Hommes de pouvoir, Indigo publications, Paris, France, June 2001.