Decentralisation, Local Development: Taking It A Step Further

A s part of measures to accele- rate the decentralisation pro- cess in Cameroon through the transfer of resources and compe- tences, the Minister of Decentrali- sation and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam chaired the signing ceremony for the handing over of about FCFA 930 million to three City Councils. They include Bafoussam, Bertoua and Garoua, with the finances coming from France through the French Deve- lopment Agency within the Came- roon Decentralisation Strengthening Project (REDECA). The event took place on September 3, 2026 at the premises of the Yaounde City Coun- cil. Each beneficiary is expected to receive about FCFA 257 million for local development related projects. Meantime, it should be noted that the global envelop of REDECA is FCFA two billion 951 million to be disbursed in instalments and the signing agreement comes after the launch of the initiative in Bafoussam, West Region on August 6, 2026. The particularity of the project as explained by Minister Georges Elanga Obam is that the population is greatly association in local deve- lopment and participate in the eva- luation process. Transparency and accountability are the watchwords to be respected by City Mayors. “We are giving a lot of money to regional and local authorities. It is more than 850 million that is been given to them and we want to make sure that the money will be adequately used, to help the Councils exercise the competences that are transfer- red to them. The money is coming from France and you know they have very strong rules about ac- countability. So it is important that the governance and management of these assets are in accordance with the F...