By Bakah Derick
Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah has been elected president of the Cameroon Bar Council. The current Bar Council President representative for the North West emerged winner of a highly contested election in Yaoundé on Monday 20 June 2022.
Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah New President of the Cameroon Bar Council
The native of Momo Division North West region finished top after vote counts with 1285 votes against Memong Phillipe with 969 votes, Ntoko Justice 210 votes and Titanji Ernest: 75 votes.
The 52 years old legal mind happened to be the youngest candidate on the race. During his campaign, he indicated that some of the laws protecting his colleagues were becoming obsolete just like the basic laws of the council. He advocated for methodic professional development within the law community.
With the mantra "Ubuntu" meaning I am because we are in Zulu, the graduate of the University of Yaounde II Soa hopes to work for the improvement of the financial situation of the Bar Council as well as work for a decent solidarity scheme, combat corruption amongst others.
The founder of Mbah and Partners law firm in Bamenda has been member of the Cameroon Bar Council since 2018.
North West tops chart of past Bar Council Presidents
Since 1974, not fewer than five Barristers-at-law from the North West have led the institution with the pioneer president Fon Gorji Dinka holding the office for about eight years from 1974 to 1982. He will hand the office to Yondo Black who will return the office to the North West four years later as Bernard Muna took charge from 1986. After six years, Patrice Monthe will takeover but only for four years before handing over to Luke K. Sendze of Nso extraction in the North West who will spend three years in command.
Another North westerner Akere T. Muna will take the presidential crown and wear for at least five years. For ten years, the presidency will leave the North West to other regions bringing Ebanga Ewondo, Tchoungang Charles and Eta Besong Junior.
In 2012, Sama Francis Asanga came to power in what was the return of the council presidency to the North West though he will not complete two terms before Jackson Ngie Kamga took charge.
Barrister Sama Francis was the fifth bar Council President from the North West at the time the nation counted just ten with the rest of the country sharing the other five places.
Since Sama’s departure in 2015, the presidency has been elsewhere including the current interim Bar President Atangana Bikouna Claire who is acting as the 13th Bar Council leader.
With Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah winning the highly contested elections, the North West region has provided the sixth Bar Council President; a record number not held by any other region in the country. In fact, it is six for The North West and eight for the rest of Cameroon.
