Within the framework of a partnership agreement signed in 2011 between the Local Government Training Centre (CEFAM) and the National Community-Driven Development Programme (PNDP), the staff of CEFAM Buea through lectures transformed the participants into genuine Council development officers in resource management and revenue collection.

How to draft a comprehensive council budget, efficient revenue collection, proper management of council funds, strategies to develop the local economy were some of the objectives during the CEFAM Buea training workshop. Cognisant of these objectives in the context of decentralisation, the Coordinator of PNDP for the East Region, Motto Bindang Solange, was optimistic that the training acquired would positively transform the management of Councils in the Region. She hailed CEFAM for the professionalism exhibited by the lecturers and for the strict respect of the partnership accord with the PNDP.

Addressing participants, the Director of CEFAM, Mathieu Hagbe urged them to impart the knowledge acquired to their mayors for improved council efficiency. He reassured the PNDP of the continuous availability of CEFAM to train council staff.

The participants, through their spokesperson, Fombe Elvire, pledged to share with colleagues the training received in Buea. She praised the PNDP East, CEFAM and Councils for the initiative to train them and consequently transform councils into veritable pivots of development. Dr. Paul Zambo of the Abong Mbang Council, told CT that the training will help participants groom council vote holders to avoid accountability lapses that are daily realities of mismanagement.