Capacity Building:

SW Mayors Schooled on Local Governance

By Ticha Melanis in Limbe

SW mayors schooled on local governance

Mayors in the South West have been drilled on ways of involving local populations in development projects that concern them. This was during a training organized by GIZ, in Limbe, on Friday 6 December.

                GIZ took advantage of the holding of the annual general assembly of the south west regional bureau of the united cities and councils of Cameroon UCCC in Limbe to school the council managers on the importance of “citizen’s participation in local development”.

                The president of UCCC South West, Aboko Patrick said the theme for the training was important because Mayors have realized that most of their development projects did not involve the population and because of that, they faced difficulties implementing the projects.

                Concerning the achievements of UCCC as a union, he said they now have an equipped office space with workers that are paid by the association.

                But he regretted that the advent of the crisis in NW/SW regions has greatly affected the smooth functioning of the association making it difficult for mayors to come together. 

                “Ours is a lobbying association. We lobby ministerial departments to see that our councils function wherever they are and thanks to the  additional tax which comes from FEICOM which is being paid to the council we are able to sustain some councils who were unable to collect taxes  to manage their council activities” he added

                Besides, the presentations from GIZ, there were also presentation from FEICOM, PNDP and the TREASURERS Association South West which were all geared towards sustainable management of councils, its activities and the community. Thereafter, there was an exclusive meeting for the mayors to discuss their successes, challenges and way forward.

                Present at the August gathering was the representatives of the South West Governor, the SDO for Fako, DO of Limbe 1, and the Government Delegates of Limbe and Kumba City Councils. It is worth mentioning that the UCCC has as ambition to emerge as an efficient organization which contributes to consolidating decentralization and becoming an advisory organ of the institutional framework of decentralization and local development.