Honourable Joshua Osih, First Vice National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, has published a five-page private member bill expected to be tabled during the November session of Cameroon’s National Assembly.

The bill is aimed at modifying and completing Law No. 2004/17 of 22 July 2004 on the orientation of decentralisation in Cameroon.

The SDF scribe has argued that the position of a “Government Delegate” be abolished in Cameroon. He stated that the appointment and existence of these officials is contrary to the principles of decentralisation as stipulated on Subsection 2 (1) of the Law.

Posted on his personal website, Hon Osih is requesting for (a) the suppression of the post of (appointed) government delegates, and (b) its replacement with an elected “City Mayor” and his deputies from within the councils of the city council.

Furthermore, the SDF Parliamentary Group calls for the substitution of the appellation of “Communauté Urbain” with “Mairie de Ville”, which is more appropriate and can be translated as “City Council”.

The various amendments target Part I section 4 (3) and Part V section 115 (1). There is equally a newly inserted section 115 (4) that will tackle the elections of these officials.

Government delegates are found in 14 major towns in Cameroon; Bamenda, Bafoussam, Bertoua, Douala, Ebolowa, Edea, Garoua, Kribi, Kumba, Limbe, Maroua, Nkongsamba, Ngaoundere, Yaounde. These officials are appointed by the President of the Republic.