Grégoire Owona
Encyclopedia
Grégoire Owona is a Cameroon
ian politician. He has served in the government of Cameroon as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies since 1997, and he has also been Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
(RDPC) since 1992.
in 1987. He was subsequently elected to the National Assembly
in the 1988 parliamentary election as an RDPC candidate in Littoral Province, and he served in the National Assembly from 1988 to 1992; during that time, he was Rapporteur-General of the National Assembly's Finance Commission.
At the time of the March 1992 parliamentary election
, Owona said that the RDPC's problem "lies in winning by too great a margin; we would be taken for cheats." He became Deputy Secretary-General of the RDPC Central Committee in July 1992. Following the October 1992 presidential election
, in which President Paul Biya
was re-elected, Owona criticized what he saw as the excesses of the press: "The current trend in Cameroon is to resort to invective ... and all those who slander and denounce would like the public to see them as heroes, threatened and persecuted." Owona was part of the delegation sent to the January 1993 inauguration of United States
President Bill Clinton
.
As President of the Technical Committee charged with drafting a new constitution, Owona was considered the architect of the draft. On 12 June 1993, he announced that the second draft had been completed. He was also Vice-President of the National Committee of Human Rights and Freedoms during the 1990s.
Owona was appointed as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies on 7 December 1997. He remained on the National Committee of Human Rights and Freedoms after his appointment to the government, and some in the opposition pointed to that as evidence of the Committee's lack of impartiality.
Following Biya's appointment of the members of the National Elections Observatory (NEO) on 10 October 2001, Owona, speaking on behalf of the RDPC, praised Biya's choices as wise and called on the members of the NEO to justify the confidence that was placed in them.
Owona denied claims that the Anglophone population was politically marginalized in a January 2003 CNN
report, arguing that Anglophones had appropriate representation in the nation's political structures and observing that the Prime Minister was an Anglophone. In March 2003, after Biya visited the United States and met with its President, George W. Bush
, at the time of that country's invasion of Iraq
, Owona defended the visit, stressing that Biya was working to advance Cameroon's interests. He said that the visit should not be perceived as marking a weakening of Cameroon's relationship with France and that it did not indicate an endorsement of the invasion.
Owona and RDPC Secretary-General Joseph Charles Doumba
had a poor relationship; by 2003 they had reportedly not been on speaking terms for years, and Biya was said to primarily work with Owona, while largely ignoring Doumba, who was in poor health.
" were acting irresponsibly by basing their reports on rumors and invading the privacy of individuals.
Defending his newspaper in court on 28 February 2006, Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga
, the editor of L'Anecdote, presented as evidence an audio recording in which an unidentified person asserted that Owona was guilty of homosexual acts and promised that further evidence was forthcoming. Owona's lawyers scorned the defense's evidence and argued that any responsible journalist would already have meaningful evidence prepared, as they would have used that same evidence in producing their reports. Amougou Belinga acknowledged under questioning that the evidence against Owona was not conclusive but said that his newspaper had only stated that Owona was suspected of homosexuality, rather than asserting it outright. Taking the stand, Owona denied that he had ever engaged in homosexuality and claimed that his reputation had suffered as a result of the newspaper's report. Emphasizing that Owona was interested in restoring his reputation and not in receiving monetary compensation, his lawyers requested only a single CFA franc
in symbolic damages
. In early March 2006, the judge ruled that Amougou Belinga was guilty of defamation and sentenced him to a four-month prison term; he also ordered Amougou Belinga to pay a fine of one million CFA francs, as well as a single CFA franc to Owona.
, the Minister of Energy and Water—for alleged corruption, Owona said that the arrests had caused some sadness but stressed the RDPC's firm support for Biya's actions.
In response to claims in the press that Biya's mandate as National President of the RDPC had expired, Owona dismissed the claims in an interview with CRTV in early July 2006; he said that Biya's mandate had already been renewed by the RDPC Political Bureau and that an extraordinary party congress would not necessarily be held for that purpose. However, Biya scheduled an extraordinary congress to be held on 21 July soon after Owona gave his interview, and Owona reportedly felt embarrassed that Biya had effectively contradicted his own argument. Due to RDPC Secretary-General Doumba's health problems, which became particularly evident when he spoke at the 2006 extraordinary congress, Owona largely managed party affairs until Biya appointed René Sadi
to succeed Doumba on 4 April 2007. On that occasion, Biya also retained Owona in his post as Deputy Secretary-General.
In November 2007, Owona described the government's 2008 budget, which was only 1.1% larger than the 2007 budget, as "realistic", arguing that additional money should not be spent unless there were accomplishments to show that it would be put to good use. Owona chaired the RDPC commission responsible for overseeing events related to the RDPC's 24th anniversary celebrations in 2009.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
ian politician. He has served in the government of Cameroon as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies since 1997, and he has also been Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
Cameroon People's Democratic Movement
The Cameroon People's Democratic Movement is the ruling political party in Cameroon.-History:Previously known as the Cameroon National Union, which had dominated Cameroon politics since independence in 1960, it was renamed in 1985...
(RDPC) since 1992.
Political career
Originally from Ngomezap in Centre Province, Owona was first elected as a municipal councillor in DoualaDouala
Douala is the largest city in Cameroon and the capital of Cameroon's Littoral Province. Home to Cameroon's largest port and its major international airport, Douala International Airport, it is the commercial capital of the country...
in 1987. He was subsequently elected to the National Assembly
National Assembly of Cameroon
The National Assembly is the parliament of Cameroon. It has 180 members, elected for five-year terms in 49 single and multi-seat constituencies....
in the 1988 parliamentary election as an RDPC candidate in Littoral Province, and he served in the National Assembly from 1988 to 1992; during that time, he was Rapporteur-General of the National Assembly's Finance Commission.
At the time of the March 1992 parliamentary election
Cameroonian parliamentary election, 1992
Parliamentary elections were held in Cameroon on 1 March 1992. They were first multi-party elections for the National Assembly since 1964, although they were boycotted by the Social Democratic Front and the Cameroon Democratic Union. The result was a victory for the ruling Cameroon People's...
, Owona said that the RDPC's problem "lies in winning by too great a margin; we would be taken for cheats." He became Deputy Secretary-General of the RDPC Central Committee in July 1992. Following the October 1992 presidential election
Cameroonian presidential election, 1992
A presidential election was held in Cameroon on 11 October 1992. It was the first presidential election since multi-party politics had been legalised, and it was also the first to feature more than one candidate. Incumbent Paul Biya won with 39.98% of the vote. Voter turnout was 71.9%.The 1992...
, in which President Paul Biya
Paul Biya
Paul Biya is a Cameroonian politician who has been the President of Cameroon since 6 November 1982. A native of Cameroon's south, Biya rose rapidly as a bureaucrat under President Ahmadou Ahidjo in the 1960s, serving as Secretary-General of the Presidency from 1968 to 1975 and then as Prime...
was re-elected, Owona criticized what he saw as the excesses of the press: "The current trend in Cameroon is to resort to invective ... and all those who slander and denounce would like the public to see them as heroes, threatened and persecuted." Owona was part of the delegation sent to the January 1993 inauguration of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
As President of the Technical Committee charged with drafting a new constitution, Owona was considered the architect of the draft. On 12 June 1993, he announced that the second draft had been completed. He was also Vice-President of the National Committee of Human Rights and Freedoms during the 1990s.
Owona was appointed as Minister-Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies on 7 December 1997. He remained on the National Committee of Human Rights and Freedoms after his appointment to the government, and some in the opposition pointed to that as evidence of the Committee's lack of impartiality.
Following Biya's appointment of the members of the National Elections Observatory (NEO) on 10 October 2001, Owona, speaking on behalf of the RDPC, praised Biya's choices as wise and called on the members of the NEO to justify the confidence that was placed in them.
Owona denied claims that the Anglophone population was politically marginalized in a January 2003 CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
report, arguing that Anglophones had appropriate representation in the nation's political structures and observing that the Prime Minister was an Anglophone. In March 2003, after Biya visited the United States and met with its President, George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
, at the time of that country's invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, Owona defended the visit, stressing that Biya was working to advance Cameroon's interests. He said that the visit should not be perceived as marking a weakening of Cameroon's relationship with France and that it did not indicate an endorsement of the invasion.
Owona and RDPC Secretary-General Joseph Charles Doumba
Joseph Charles Doumba
Joseph Charles Doumba is a Cameroonian politician. First appointed to the government of Cameroon as Minister of Information and Culture in 1974, Doumba was Secretary-General of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement from 1992 to 2007.Doumba was designated as Secretary-General of the RDPC, the...
had a poor relationship; by 2003 they had reportedly not been on speaking terms for years, and Biya was said to primarily work with Owona, while largely ignoring Doumba, who was in poor health.
2006 defamation suit
After the newspapers L'Anecdote and Nouvelles d'Afrique—as part of an effort to identify prominent individuals guilty of "deviant behavior"—reported that Owona and about 50 others were homosexuals, he filed a defamation suit in February 2006, along with two doctors who were also identified as homosexual. Although homosexuality was illegal in Cameroon, President Biya said that the newspapers involved in "outingOuting
Outing is the act of disclosing a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender person's true sexual orientation or gender identity without that person's consent. Outing gives rise to issues of privacy, choice, hypocrisy, and harm in addition to sparking debate on what constitutes common good in efforts...
" were acting irresponsibly by basing their reports on rumors and invading the privacy of individuals.
Defending his newspaper in court on 28 February 2006, Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga
Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga
Jean Pierre Amougou Belinga is a Cameroonian publisher of the newspaper L'Anecdote. Belinga gained notoriety in March 2006 when a Cameroon court jailed him for four months for defaming Gregoire Owona, a government minister named in a list of 50 presumed homosexuals in Cameroon.-Arrest and...
, the editor of L'Anecdote, presented as evidence an audio recording in which an unidentified person asserted that Owona was guilty of homosexual acts and promised that further evidence was forthcoming. Owona's lawyers scorned the defense's evidence and argued that any responsible journalist would already have meaningful evidence prepared, as they would have used that same evidence in producing their reports. Amougou Belinga acknowledged under questioning that the evidence against Owona was not conclusive but said that his newspaper had only stated that Owona was suspected of homosexuality, rather than asserting it outright. Taking the stand, Owona denied that he had ever engaged in homosexuality and claimed that his reputation had suffered as a result of the newspaper's report. Emphasizing that Owona was interested in restoring his reputation and not in receiving monetary compensation, his lawyers requested only a single CFA franc
CFA franc
The CFA franc is the name of two currencies used in Africa which are guaranteed by the French treasury. The two CFA franc currencies are the West African CFA franc and the Central African CFA franc...
in symbolic damages
Damages
In law, damages is an award, typically of money, to be paid to a person as compensation for loss or injury; grammatically, it is a singular noun, not plural.- Compensatory damages :...
. In early March 2006, the judge ruled that Amougou Belinga was guilty of defamation and sentenced him to a four-month prison term; he also ordered Amougou Belinga to pay a fine of one million CFA francs, as well as a single CFA franc to Owona.
Events since 2006
Following the February 2006 arrest of several prominent officials—including Alphonse Siyam SiwéAlphonse Siyam Siwe
Alphonse Siyam Siwe is a Cameroonian politician who served as Minister of Energy and Water from 2004 to 2006 and was previously the Director-General of the Autonomous Port of Douala. In 2007, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for corruption.Born in Douala, Siwe was Deputy Director of...
, the Minister of Energy and Water—for alleged corruption, Owona said that the arrests had caused some sadness but stressed the RDPC's firm support for Biya's actions.
In response to claims in the press that Biya's mandate as National President of the RDPC had expired, Owona dismissed the claims in an interview with CRTV in early July 2006; he said that Biya's mandate had already been renewed by the RDPC Political Bureau and that an extraordinary party congress would not necessarily be held for that purpose. However, Biya scheduled an extraordinary congress to be held on 21 July soon after Owona gave his interview, and Owona reportedly felt embarrassed that Biya had effectively contradicted his own argument. Due to RDPC Secretary-General Doumba's health problems, which became particularly evident when he spoke at the 2006 extraordinary congress, Owona largely managed party affairs until Biya appointed René Sadi
René Sadi
René Emmanuel Sadi is a Cameroonian politician who has been the Secretary-General of the Central Committee of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement , the ruling political party in Cameroon, since 2007...
to succeed Doumba on 4 April 2007. On that occasion, Biya also retained Owona in his post as Deputy Secretary-General.
In November 2007, Owona described the government's 2008 budget, which was only 1.1% larger than the 2007 budget, as "realistic", arguing that additional money should not be spent unless there were accomplishments to show that it would be put to good use. Owona chaired the RDPC commission responsible for overseeing events related to the RDPC's 24th anniversary celebrations in 2009.