“The Greatest Problem We Have Is Voter Apathy”

Your mandate as Chairperson of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon was on July 12, 2022 renewed by the President of the Republic. How do you welcome this renewed confidence and what plans have you for this mandate? 
I think I am quite happy for the renewed confidence in my personality by the Head of State. I think that this is a mark of recognition for the efforts we put to bring Elections Cameroon to greener pastures. The challenges for this mandate are many. We have as ambition, to make sure that the confidence bestowed on us by the other actors of the political process can be nurtured and we want to make sure we create a conducive atmosphere for elections that are inclusive, free and fair. 
What can you say has been the hallmark of your last mandate? 
We came into Elections Cameroon at the heart of the crisis in ELECAM. I think one of the major achievements is first of all bringing a serene atmosphere amongst Board Members and the Directorate General and also between the staff. And do not forget that what was successfully registered was the organisation of elections that took place during my last mandate. We organised the Senatorial elections, the Legislative and Municipal elections, Presidential election and do not forget, one major election that took place in this country for the very first time was the Regional elections that was successfully conducted. It was the new found approach towards the management of elections that produced these results. We are also witnessing a less number of petitions in the courts relating to elections conduct. During my mandate, the number of registered potential voters increased from five million to slightly above seven million, though our target remains registering ten million and above potential voters. There has also been the regular payment of the National Social Insurance Fund dues of workers including the payment of their due arrears. We have also brought in gender equity at the central administrative and regional levels. For example, at the Directorate General, there is the proportion of two women to three men. The head office of Elections Cameroon was constructed under my mandate and we have done same for some regional offices as are the cases in North and Eastern Regions. A similar exercise is ongoing in the West and Adamawa Regions. At Divisional levels, we have 15 buildings and some at the Council levels. 
What do you plan on doing to ensure that the electoral registers are reflective of the total population of the country given that ELECAM successfully registers an estimated seven million potential voters out of a total population of over 20 million?
The greatest problem we have is voter apathy. What the Electoral Board is doing is massive sensitisation of the electors and encouraging the new comers (that is those who are 20 years and above at the registration period). We observ...