Over two dozen staff from the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation (MINATD) and protocol services in Governors’ and Prefects’ offices in the 10 regions, started receiving lectures on protocol practices yesterday, November 10, 2015 in Yaounde.

The training which is facilitated by senior officials of the Ministry of External Relations (MINREX) is expected to upgrade the skills of the participants in the organisation of public ceremonies, especially in ensuring respect for the ranks of various personalities attending.

Opening the workshop, the acting Secretary General of MINREX, Mohamadou Moustapha, on behalf of Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, stated the honour felt by his ministry for the opportunity to train administrative staff who participate daily alongside classical diplomatic spheres in representing and defending the interests of the State, amongst others.

After recalling that State protocol staff are in charge of putting into practice Codes of Conduct approved for use by diplomatic practices, Mohamadou Moustapha said the workshop will enable the participants explore concepts related to problems encountered in their daily tasks.

Training modules include management of meetings, audiences, conferences, visits, official receptions and ceremonies. For each module, emphasis will be laid on invitations, welcoming guests, order of speeches, table arrangements and dressing codes, amongst others. The three days of theory will be followed by a one-week practical phase in the Directorate of Protocol in MINREX where the participants will familiarise with protocol practices.

Representing the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, the Sub-Director for Human Resource Development, Angèle Ndzie Ntsama, said the workshop fell within the ministry’s human resource capacity-building programme.