Decentralisation in 2022 : Time For Remarkable Acceleration

Decentralisation enshrined in the 1996 Constitution in Cameroon is expected to witness a great acceleration leap forward in 2022 considering that the required legal and legislative instruments are in place to boost the process intended to ensure balanced development.
The Head of State, President Paul Biya in the New Year message to the nation on December 31, 2021 appreciated the strides made in the decentralisation and regionalisation process implemented nationwide. Considering the desire of Cameroonians to see the process accelerated, he said, “We must avoid any kind of haste that may undermine our country’s unity and our republican ideal. Surely, we will carefully and patiently do whatever needs be done.”
President Paul Biya had earlier set the pace for acceleration in Decree No. 2021/742 of 28 December 2021 to lay down the standard organisation of Regional Administration. In other decree signed the same day, President Biya laid down the distribution of the Common Decentralisation Fund for the 2021 financial year. There were equally decrees signed concerning the devolution of powers by the State to regions. Specifically, the decrees were those to lay down the terms and conditions governing the exercise of some town planning and housing powers devolved upon regions by the State;  participation of regions in the organisation and management of interurban public transport; tourism and leisure and environmental protection.  All these decrees come to add to the law to Institute the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities.
Regions as local authorities as at now have everything it takes to function properly. The bureaus of Regional Councils are in place, appointed officials such as Secretaries General and Treasurers are in place. Each Regional Council has voted its budget for the 2022 financial year, they already have abodes though mostly temporary and the decree on the standard organisation of Regional Administrations states the var...