Local Development: UCCC NW put Councils on Industrialisation path

By Bakah Derick 

The Nort West Regional President of United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC) has made clear his wish for councils to lead the Induatralisation of the region.  Denis Awoh Ndang was speaking in Bamenda on Thursday 14 April 2022 during a meeting of Mayors of the North West Region organised by his institution. 

Denis Awoh Ndang, UCCC North West Regional President speaking at the opening. 

According to the UCCC leader who was organising his second meeting after taking over office in 2021, a recent symposium in Yaounde focusing on supporting the decentralisation agenda of Cameroon through local economic development  gave him reason to believe that councils can drive the Induatralisation process of Cameroon. 

"If there is one thing I got from the symposium, it will be that some countries have adopted, One Village One Industry approach that might be so advanced for us but we can start from somewhere. So, I'm proposing that the North-West Region should adopt the One Municipality; One Industry Approach. So, my humble proposal to us the Mayors today is that, next time we meet we should each be able to present an industry that can be developed in our municipality. That way, we can as a team start sourcing for funds for feasibility studies and eventual realization. Mark you, the industry can be piloted by the council as well as by the elites of that municipality but let the mayor be the guiding force behind the industry." Ndang said 

Despite insinuations by the local council authorities that their institutions were heavily indebted and so showed visible signs of not buying the idea for fear of more depts, the UCCC President explained to wwww.hilltopvoices.com that the debts which they are taking about were incured by their predecessors for project like classrooms, electricity, roads amongst others. Without minimising these projects, Denis Awoh Ndang, himself mayor of Fundong Council in Boyo division argued that some of these projects like electricity are good but they rather collect revenue from their municipalities leaving the council with nothing and consequently it was important to begin reflecting on more sustainable approaches to local development with Induatralisation as the key. This he added can prevent the youth from picking up arms. 

Some of the Mayors during the meeting 

Reacting on the subject, the Mayor of Nkambe, Musa Shey Nfor described the proposal as appropriate. According to him, his municipality has been working in this area. He corroborated the UCCC President and stated that his council stands out as a model in activities that empower the youth. Nkambe in Dunga Mantung Division has a strong potential for agriculture oriented industries. Reports from Nkambe confirm huge council investments in the sector. 

With the presence during the meeting  of institutions like the Ministries of Local Development and Public Contracts, the Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM), and the Socio Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SEEPD) project, UCCC North West seeks to implement one of the objectives of the institution which aims at creating " a forum for dialogue between councils and cities on the one hand, the State, development partners and all decentralisation stakeholders on the other hand."

Created in 2003, the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC), brings together all councils in the country with the vision to  contribute in  consolidating decentralisation and become an advisory organ of the institutional framework of decentralisation and local development.