African Day of Decentralisation: Ensuring Food Security On Limelight

Week-long activities making the celebration of the 11th edition of the African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development under the theme, “Making Food Security a Key Priority for Development and Territorial Cooperation,” have been launched in Yaounde. The Minister of Decentralisation and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam kick-started the activities on August 3, 2022, calling on stakeholders to support policies that guarantee food security. According to Minister Elanga Obam, the main strategy for the 2022 African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development aims to recognise the experiences of regional and local authorities in dealing with food security issues, presenting the best intervention practices as well as identifying the challenges and prospects of improving food insecurity in Cameroon.
The Minister reiterated that decentralised authorities have an essential role to play in ensuring food security by facilitating the putting in place of effective transportation and storage mechanisms. The General Code on Regional and Local Authorities, the Minister stated, in its transfer of powers, transmits the competences of agricultural production to decentralised authorities. He added that government is working with Regions and Councils in eradicating extreme hunger and poverty as highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goals, and attaining Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
It was a dual ceremony as the Minister also presided at the 5th African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day, under the theme, “Harnessing Coordination, Country Leadership and Ownership to Strengthen Integrated Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Systems: A Vehicle for Counting Everyone. He noted that the theme is inspired by the need for regional and local authorities alongside the State to promote leadership in the transformation of civil status registration and vital statist...