Crisis Management, Decentralisation : Colloquium Empowers Local Authorities On Dev’t

The three-day colloquium organised by the National School for Local Administration (NASLA) wrapped up deliberations last June 23, 2023 recommending the optimal use of information and communication technologies to avert crises risks. Minister Georges Elanga Obam of Local Development and Decentralisation presided at the closing flanked by South West Regional Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai. Presenters at the colloquium classified crises into natural, social and political categories expressing strong concern about man-made crisis, which could be avoided to give chance for peace and development. They highlighted natural and manmade crises like the Boko Haram attacks in the Far North and the Anglophone crisis plaguing the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon. The experts enumerated rampant floods, climate change, landslides and fire outbreaks as situations that impose crises amongst the populations. Participants underscored that in crises resolution and prevention, local authorities should optimise territorial intelligence, maintain and restore basic registration services if crises are to be prevented by achieving human rights and peace while facilitating effective communication between local and government institutions for efficient operational crises management. Organised under the theme “Crises management within the decentralisation context in Cameroon: Challenges and prospects for Regional and Local Authorities,” the colloquium through its plenary sessions and round table discussions em...