NASLA Trains Decentralization Stakeholders On Crisis Management

Locally elected officials in the country have been urged to be at the core of facilitation in crisis management. Minister Georges Elanga Obam of decentralization and local development was speaking at the end of a three day scientific colloquium at the National School of Local Administration, NASLA in Buea which ran from June 21 to 23. The event which had as theme; ‘Crisis management within the decentralization context in Cameroon: challenges and prospects for regional and local authorities’,  was attended by over 200 participants consisting  Mayors, Regional Councilors as well as other regional and local authorities.

The Minister of Decentralisation alongside other speakers spelled out the process of decentralization, its stakes, challenges and diverse opportunities that abound during the management of different crises. The minister tasked delegates to adhere to the rules of regional and local councils when managing these crises.

Municipal and regional council authorities also picked up crisis management lessons within the decentralization context from various facilitators who showed their knowhow on varied topics Former Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Philip Ngole Ngwese presented on the Management of Socio-Political crisis in the Northwest, Southwest and Far North regions making parallels from other crisis hit zones across the world. The Mayor of Douala III municipality, Epoupa Valentine elaborated on Floods, prevention and control meanwhile the Mayor of Douala IV Council, Moby Mpah Edouard Herve talked on Covid-19.The management of Internally displaced persons during crisis period was expounded by the Mayor of Wum Council, Mvo Dighambong Anthony.

At the end of the colloquium, Minister Georges Elanga Obam said, ‘‘I believe most of the Mayors and administrative authorities who attended the forum are now aware of what is a crisis, catastrophe and they have been trained to face such issues. It was more of awareness and people have been sensitised and are more interested. In the nearest future, we are going to follow-up what we have started.  As an evaluation I would say it is good but will be better in the days ahead.”

Challenges During Crisis Management

According to the Director General of NASLA, Tanyitiku Enohachuo Bayee, the new code of regional and local authorities has transferred to the regions powers to draw up regional disaster prevention and intervention plan. ‘‘In this case it has institutionalized the role of regions. The municipal authorities are frontline actors because of their proximity to where these crises or disaster situations happen,’’ he said.

Talking to some Mayors on the challenges faced during crisis management in their various municipalities. The Mayor of Eyumojock council, Manyu Division, Ita Ayamba Jacques said being at the border which is very porous, they are faced with the phenomenon of criminality.  ‘‘We have criminals from Nigeria and Cameroon that stand on our highway to perturb the movement of goods and persons, that is the greatest challenge faced in our municipality’’.

To the Mayor of Buea, David Mafani Namange, being victims of the socio-political crisis, the fact that it was better managed in his municipality was thanks to the population.  ‘‘We have been enjoying relative peace and that makes it a pool factor for populations from other areas still suffering to rush into Buea. Many persons have moved into the Buea municipality which has brought pressure on local resources. We also have natural phenomenon we are faced with due to the flashfloods and its regrettable consequences’’.