By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Judith Yah Sunday, general manager of Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL), has praised the company’s workers for their commitment to the institution. He also pledged to fight fraud in all its forms, warning that company assets are not personal property.
The general manager made the remarks on May 1 during celebrations marking the 140th commemoration of International Labour Day. The 2026 edition was observed under the theme “Social Dialogue and Decent Work: Factors of Peace, National Cohesion and Business Economic Development.”
Speaking during the reception ceremony in Yaoundé, Yah Sunday said, “My first words are to say thank you. Thank you for your daily commitment. Thank you for your resilience, often silent.”
He cited the recent World Trade Organization (WTO) conference and the Pope’s visit to Cameroon as moments that reflected CAMTEL’s exceptional performance, adding that it was made possible by the collective energy of staff.
“We thus proved that we are the pillar of technology of the nation during major diplomatic meetings. We also demonstrated our ability to bring global change with a professionalism that honours our nation,” she said.
While stating that Labour Day is not only a celebration, she indicated that it is “also a mirror that reflects the image of who we are, a working community united by a mission, driven by a shared goal.”
Revisiting the past year, the General Manager said it was not merely a year of management, but a year of transformation, carried out in a constantly changing technological environment in which performance requirements evolve as rapidly as ultra-fast broadband.
“CAMTEL is moving forward. CAMTEL is modernising itself. CAMTEL is making its marks,” he said.
Referring to the Presidential Decree signed in relation to the loan from the China Eximbank for Phase 4 of the national backbone, Judith Yah Sunday described it as a strong signal, a signal of trust and responsibility, saying the project will strengthen the resilience of CAMTEL’s network, improve the quality of service, and bring Cameroonians even closer together, whether in urban centres or in the most remote areas of the country.
“The broader the bandwidth of our ambitions, the more the obligation to produce becomes non-negotiable. I cannot stress this enough. It is not a company like any other. We do not merely serve services. We ensure continuity. We guarantee sovereignty. We are the invisible infrastructure that underpins the visible economy. We are the network that connects, secures and prospers. Being the secular arm of the state in the field of telecommunication is not just a slogan,” she said.
On fraud, Judith Yah Sunday described it as cancer that must be rooted out at all cost. She said every act of fraud is an act of betrayal against the company, against Cameroonians and against the state.
“I cannot tolerate the abuse and irresponsible use of our assets,” she said, adding that such practices may include poor maintenance practices, waste, lack of monitoring and reporting, reckless driving and unacceptable exposure to theft.
Concerning CAMTEL’s assets, , Judith Yah Sunday said, “I wish to reiterate that corporate vehicles, office equipment and material resources are not personal property. They are work tools funded by taxpayers and must be managed with the diligence of a prudent person.”
He also drew officials’ attention to the protection of infrastructure, saying it is a critical and vital factor for the institution’s performance. She noted that the network, optical fibre cables, equipment and technical sites are strategic national assets.
“Every cable cut, every site sabotage or vandalism, every piece of infrastructure damage is not just a material loss. It translates into a service disruption, depriving a Cameroonian of connection and leaving a business vulnerable. Protecting this asset is not solely the responsibility of technical or security teams,” she said.
Regarding indiscipline, absenteeism and unethical behaviour, the general manager said such issues will be addressed as strictly as necessary, with no passive tolerance or occasional leniency.
“Our workplace cannot be a space for distraction. CAMTEL must remain a space for focus, performance and professionalism in order to provide quality services to customers. In our presence, any CAMTEL employee caught during work hours selling items related to their status will simply be thanked and asked to return home,” she said.
On service quality, Judith Sunday said it is not only about network speed or availability, but also about the quality of the welcome, the quality of listening and the quality of the relationship. She said workers’ rights are legitimate, but they carry “rather absolute responsibilities,” adding that he would not tolerate any compromise.
She urged CAMTEL staff to view no assignment or redeployment as punishment, saying it should instead be seen as a service requirement and an opportunity for professional development.
Despite the challenges, she said CAMTEL’s commitment remains strong. She added that, because the future is being shaped today, the company has integrated more than 700 young talents into its team.
She called on elders, directors and other leaders to mentor these young employees, saying they should not be seen as competition but as an extension of a shared responsibility to guide and develop the next generation.
