Workers of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, NCHRF, have honed their skills in administrative writing.

They were trained at a two-day workshop that took place in Yaounde recently.

During the workshop, participants were urged to pay particular attention to programming, timeliness and politeness when drafting administrative documents.

“When writing, programme activities in a way that will not conflict with others. Avoid accumulating activities in the last two months of the year.

Respect timeliness; if you are writing a report, make sure you do it in time so that the information does not reach late” stressed the Chairperson of the Commission, Divine Banda Chemuta.

According to Chemuta, politeness is very important in administrative writing and workers must write politely even when replying to queries.

“Presume that an accused person is innocent. Don’t write to such persons assuming they are guilty simply because they were accused,” said Chemuta, adding “make sure you take time to list all documents attached at the end of your correspondence, avoiding ambiguities.”

While improving their knowledge in drafting official documents, the workers also acquainted themselves with the organisation of the Commission.

“This workshop is very important because we have learnt some technical aspects involved in writing administrative documents. I believe my work will be easier now because I have got the solutions in this workshop to some of the difficulties I faced,” said one of the participants, Annet Enonchong Mbeng, who works in the Cooperation, Documentation and Research Service of NCHRF.

The Head of the Protection Service, Victor AfoniSinsai, said the workshop was timely, given that it addressed some challenges he faced on a daily basis while dealing with official documents.

The workshop was facilitated by the former Secretary General of the Commission, BarthelemyObongono; a civil administrator and lecturer at the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ENAM, Boniface Noah, among others.