The Mbatkam Hotel in Bafoussam is hosting, since Monday, 25 th May, 2026, the regional consultation and diagnostic presentation workshop on decentralization. This major gathering marks a decisive milestone in grassroots development planning within the West Region. Over a forty-eight-hour period, regional stakeholders are called upon to examine the roadmap that will guide local public action over the next five years. The proceedings, placed under the technical coordination of Jean-Claude Tcheuwa, Inspector General at the Ministry of Decentralization and Local Development, stand out for their inclusive approach. Indeed, they mobilize all key actors in local governance, notably mayors and officials from Decentralized Local Authorities, heads of devolved state services, as well as civil society representatives.
The official opening ceremony was presided over by Mrs. Ngo Ikond Louise Alvine, Head of the Regional Development Division and personal representative of the Governor of the West Region. In her keynote address, the administrative authority’s representative emphasized that this meeting takes place in a particularly significant context of Cameroon’s institutional and economic evolution. Since the constitutional reform of January 18, 1996, establishing Cameroon as a decentralized unitary State, the country has embarked, under the high impulse of the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya, on a profound transformation of public governance. This historic dynamic has brought the administration closer to the citizens and established local authorities as true drivers of economic and social progress.
This strategic direction, which has become a fundamental pillar of state modernisation, was reaffirmed by the Head of State during the October 2025 presidential election through His solemn commitment to deepen the decentralization process by transferring more powers, strengthening resources, and optimizing local governance. It is clear that Cameroon’s emergence remains intimately linked to the capacity of its regions to transform into areas of prosperity, stability, and sustainable development. Therefore, decentralization stands out as the ultimate lever for promoting local democracy, improving the quality of proximity public services, and stimulating the territorial economy.
The stakes of this Bafoussam workshop are therefore crucial for the future of the Region. Participants are tasked with thoroughly reviewing the drafting document of the National Decentralization and Local Development Strategy for the 2026-2030 period. This prospective evaluation exercise aims to lucidly identify the constraints and shortcomings that still slow down local action, with a view to formulating concrete and tailored solutions. By capitalizing on the rich economic, cultural, and human potential of the West Region, these deliberations lay the groundwork for structural transformation and shared growth for the benefit of the population..
