Time for gov’t, Pentecostal churches to work together on socio-political issues?

By Nchendzengang Tatah

Yaounde-Cameroon – Relations between government and Pentecostal churches have been stretched recently following the sealing of some Pentecostal churches, deemed to be operating ‘illegally’. In Yaounde and across the country, hundreds of Pentecostal churches have been officially closed in the first quarter of 2025 according to reports.

Pentecostal clergy have been reacting to the issue and also commenting about other social problems facing Cameroonians. Bishop Fon Ghogomu, President and Founder of United Crusade Team for Jesus Christ (UNITEJC) Worldwide addressed the current state of affairs in a March 11 interview. UNITEJC has been operating for the last three decades in Cameroon.
Ghogomu started by mentioning that a church should operate on issued permits from the government such that the authorities are informed of its presence.

Nonetheless, he recalled that presidential degrees which create a church legally have not been issued for decades. Implying the state was partly responsible for the ongoing cacophony.
“Is it that these church entities made themselves known and the government has not issued permits and yet shut them down? So, I think it is important to initiate a proper sense of dialogue. Because we need the government and the government needs us,” Bishop Ghogomu said.

He further pointed out that, actions against this backdrop make the church’s victims of terror from the state. Reiterating that Pentecostal church membership in Cameroon is primarily Cameroonian. Forming a portion of the electorate who have rights to be respected. Additionally, the preacher is of the opinion that a way to ease the acquisition of permits will be through giving decentralized services like councils rights to issue permits for church creation.

“Don’t these churches provide peace, comfort and strength to communities and families? Even if there are ten churches in one building as long as they have space, and they have a sense of respect and reasonable sense of existence, that is okay. The state should be responsible and try to empower these guys who run churches,” stated the UNITEJC president. Bishop Ghogomu explained that, there were two ways to start ministry he felt were both acceptable. Either by acquiring certification first or doing so after commencing the church.

He said it will not be possible for the newcomers to express in already existing Pentecostal churches based on differences in perspective towards the gospel. Furthermore, he highlighted that the government had not adequately accompanied Pentecostal churches like the conventional bodies. This he admitted, gave a sense of exclusion which sometimes transformed into rebellion of the Pentecostal churches.
“We should not be surprised tomorrow that before God, what he considered the big church are not the big membered churches today. I mean to say that, we have to be cautious and allow God to move in the lives of people. Accompany these churches, and these individuals, don’t lock them up!” The Pentecostal prelate affirmed.

October elections

With regards to elections, Bishop Ghogomu encouraged Christians to register and vote. He also charged the government to ensure a free and fair election and include the church in the electoral process as a moral authority.
In a comment at the end of 2024, he had urged Paul Biya who has been president for the last 42 years to preserve his legacy by stepping down. With what he now sees as displaying intentions of the CPDM to maintain Biya, the cleric thinks the president has a choice.

The garbage problem

The dirt-filled streets of Cameroon, especially in Yaounde has become an issue animating media discussions. In a social media outing on March 9, Bishop Ghogomu called for a state of emergency to be declared to address the problem. To the man of God, the blame game is not helping. However, he felt it was time for tax payers to enjoy the benefits of their resources through clean cities. He put forward that, a public private partnership could be a way out of the dilemma. He further believed that decentralization is a step toward the solution challenged in our context by lack of transparency, good governance and management.

“The risk of cholera and many other health hazards are glaring. So, a state of emergency has to be declared in which the military will be used in cleaning Yaounde. After that, the governor should be able to sit with the different councils and see how there should be a public tender. From a project design perspective, for a way forward in terms of waste management,” he proposed.
The huge piles of dirt around the capital with poor road conditions has continued to gain national attention with little being done on ground by the powers that be. The fast growing Pentecostal groups want the government to hear their voices in order to contribute sustainably to nation building.