Comparative Public Administration:

Buea Varsity Don reviews Cameroon’s Administration in Book

By Boris Esono in Buea

Prof. James Arrey Abagma, at the launching of his book: Comparative Public Administration

It is often said that if you want to keep something away from Cameroonians put it in writing. But UB’s Prof. of Political Science and Public Administration, James Arrey Abangma, seems not to subscribe to this assertion. Prof. Abagma on Wednesday 25 April 2018 at the Amphi 250 of the University of Buea launched a book titled “Comparative Public Administration: Theory and Behavior”.

            Presiding at the book launching, UB’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, said it is very important to appreciate people who contribute to knowledge.

            “Our role in UB is to generate and disseminate knowledge. Reason why I enjoin all teachers here to follow the example of Prof. Abagma, whose book is not only very rich but will go a long way to add to the existing knowledge.”

            Prof. Ngomo encouraged participants at the book launch to grab copies of the book so that they can tap from the knowledge contained in it.

            Speaking to reporters after launching his book, the author, Prof. Abangma said the book attempts a review of the tools that are put in place to curb the extensive powers of the administration.

            “The book is a demonstration of the bureaucratic situation of countries. It shows for example how Cameroon fits in the French model which was adopted at the detriment of the English system after the re-unification”.

            “Cameroon is still young because if we want to treat the existence of Cameroon as a bureaucratic system, we start looking as from 1960 to present day……. Cameroon is still undergoing what we can call a transition as it is trying to forge a harmonious system from the British and French colonial administrations,” 

            To the VP of PADEC, Mutagha Sylvanus, who has read the book, it provides vivid explanations to some of the grievances that have been raised by Anglophones in terms of governance in Cameroon.

            The event was attended by teachers and officials of UB, representatives of the GCE Board, workers of the administrative court, students of UB and persons from the wider public.