The Cameroon Cooperative Union League, CamCCUL was the centre of attraction during activities to commemorate the 2014 International Credit Union Day with many participants being positive that the League has contributed enormously to the socio-economic development of Cameroon.

Delegates from all the chapters of CamCCUL, from the ten regions of Cameron on Saturday 18th October 2014, converged in Bafoussam to commemorate the Day.

Celebrated under the theme “local service, global goal”, the highly attended ceremony brought together top CamCCUL executives and representatives of the supervisory ministries of Finance, Agriculture and Rural Development, Economy, Planning and Regional Development and Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries.

Welcoming the participants at the ceremony, the government delegate to the Bafoussam city council, Mr Emmanuel Nzete said the choice of the city by CamCCCUL to host the 2014 International Credit Union Day is testimony of the importance the West and Bafoussam in particular attaches to the development of micro finance institutions which are members of the league.

Taking the queue the governor of the West region, Awa Fonka Augustine who presided at the ceremony acknowledged that the government was well aware of the problems the micro finance sector is facing in Cameroon while assuring the president of CamCCUL and his members that the government is not blind to their challenges.

“I have taken note of the challenges outlined by the President of CamCCUL, I want to assure you Mr. President, that the government will pay particular attention to those preoccupations”, the Governor reassured.

He said that the presence of representatives of MINFI, MINADER, MINEPAT and MINEPIA at the Bafoussam event attests to government’s special support to CamCCUL.

On his part, the president of CamCCUL Shey Musa Nfor appreciated the government for initiating rural development projects such as PADMIR, PACA, PAPA for which the league is one of the key beneficiaries and partner.

Mr. Musa insisted that CamCCUL is apolitical and appealed to government to put in place a special tax scheme for credit unions and provide security to the financial cooperatives whose location in mostly rural areas makes them easy preys to armed groups.

Mr. Musa also noted that international day celebrations whether at local, national or international levels are also good moments for reconciliation.

“On this occasion, the CamCCUL family once more recognizes that there has been a situation of some of its beloved members living in a state of separation, not divorce. We pray for reconciliation based on genuine dialogue”.

The International Credit Union Day celebration was started in 1948 by the United States Credit Union National Association (CUNA).

Credit unions saw the light of day in Cameroon in 1963 when Rev. Father Anthony Jansen founded the first credit union in Njinikom, Boyo division of the Northwest region.

The last time Bafoussam hosted the celebration of the International Credit Union Day was on the 17th October 2009 under the aegis of the then Vice Prime Minister in charge of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jean Kuete.