Jury Members congratulate Dr Cliford Ewane after brilliant PHD defence
A research study at the University of Buea examined Cameroon’s Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP), which guided the country’s development policy from 2010 to 2020 bringing out its strength and weaknesses.
The PhD thesis brilliantly defended on August 18, 2026, by Dr Ewane Cliford Ngabe before a six-member jury chaired by Prof. James Abangma Arrey, also rolled out some solutions that can bail out the country from its unemployment woes.
The research found that while the GESP recorded progress in addressing some socio-economic challenges, poverty, unemployment and infrastructure deficits remained major concerns.
The researcher recommends stronger monitoring and evaluation of development policies and an acceleration of import substitution to boost local production, create jobs and reduce poverty.
After about four hours of examination, the jury recommended the candidate to the University Senate for the award of a PhD degree.
He is henceforth Dr. Ewane Cliford Ngabe of the Department of Political Science and Comparative Politics, Faculty of Law and Political Science, University of Buea.
His PHD thesis was titled “Cameroon’s National Development Strategies and Socio-economic Challenges: An evaluation of the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP)”.
This research piece falls within a profound reflection on the effectiveness of national development policies, through a critical evaluation of the GESP and its effects on socio-economic challenges which are amongst others poverty, unemployment, infrastructural development, and human capital development.
The thesis was presented before a six-member jury composed of Professor James Arrey Abangma (President), Professor Mbida Onambele (External Examiner), Professor Ndefru John (Internal Examiner), Professor Ta-Mbi Nkongho (Supervisor), Dr. Munjah Vitalis (Co-Supervisor), and Professor Onana Antoine (Member).
Defence session
After the presentation with high level scientific exchanges, the jury highlighted the pertinence of the topic and the problem statement by the candidate, the rigorous scientific analysis and mastery of subject, and the pertinence of the results gotten in relation to the realities of poverty, unemployment, infrastructure, and human capital.
The jury also appreciated the pertinence of the recommendations made by the candidate as means of ameliorating the effectiveness and impact of public policies on development.
At the end, the jury awarded the candidate a Ph.D Degree in Political Science (Political Economy) with an Excellent Grade.
“This distinction demonstrates a remarkable academic and professional journey in the domains of political economy and public finance, and the analysis of public policy,” Dr. Ewane Cliford said after the award.
He is a holder of a three Bachelor’s Degrees (in Economics, in Psychology, and in Public Law), a Master Degree in Economics, (all from the University of Buea), and another Professional Masters in Public Finance, with speciality in Public Economy and Public Management (Univ. Yde II/MINFI).
He has been a Lecturer of public finance in ENAP and NASLA Buea for some years now, and is also Knight of the Cameroon Order of Valour.
Dr Ewane Cliford briefing the Press after the defence.