Members of the Electoral Board of ELECAM met on Thursday, 21st of December 2023, in Yaounde in abid to elaborate the roadmap for the 2024 financial year.
As of tradition, Members of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM met in Yaounde for the fourth and last ordinary session of the year.
The President of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, Dr. Enow Abrams Egbe opened the one-day session with a keyword.
In his address, Dr. Enow Abrams Egbe outlined the stakes of this fourth and last session of the year 2023 which takes place a few days after the parliamentary session that gave root to the adoption of the 2024 State Budget.
The conclave was also aimed at setting the pace for the 2024 voters’ registration process and the various supervision field trips that will be undertaken for the smooth running of upcoming elections.
Dr. Enow Abrams Egbe said:“Our deliberations shall therefore focus on the review and approval of the repartition of ELECAM’s budget and the special appropriation of the Electoral Board, with regards to our roadmap for the 2024 financial year. Additionally, we shall deliberate and agree on the terms of reference for our next field trip, to supervise the launching of the 2024 annual revision of electoral registers, due to resume on January 1st, as prescribed under Section 74 Sub-2 of the Electoral Code.”
However, he pointed out that, the Elections Managing Body in Cameroon, ELECAM keeps conducting regular introspections to improve its internal policies and continuously strives hard for a credible process in the course of its different operations.
According to the Boss of the Electoral Board of ELECAM, there have been in-depth analyses ahead of upcoming elections, which paved the way to adopting some 11 key strategies that have been endorsed in the 2024 road map.
The said strategic plan is therefore focused on 11 crucial pillars which are to:
-Increase the strategic capacities of the Electoral Board in the monitoring, follow-up, and supervision of activities, as well as reinforce institutional cooperation with national and international actors and partners;
-Develop or put in place innovative tools and means that will guarantee successful conduct of the next elections;
-Create conducive working conditions that will help accentuate the performances of ELECAM’s staff;
-Guarantee a viable use of financial resources put in place for all operations;
-Optimize communication and sensitization actions to boost the engagement of various stakeholders, for an effective implication of young people, women, minorities, and people living with disabilities;
-Prevent and mitigate judicial risks;
-Revitalize electoral research and reinforce monitoring for operational performances of support organizations and institutions attached to the General Directorate;
-Reinforce and consolidate the practice of bilingualism;
-Modernize and secure the documentation and archives system;
-Optimize the management of stocks and stabilize the situation of assets;
-Reinforce security of persons and goods.
Moreover, the Board Chairman seized the occasion of this last session of the year to recall the need for a hitch-free organization of fair, inclusive, and transparent elections as it has always been the case at the level of ELECAM.
He said ELECAM is conscious of all the stakes and challenges that are under the spotlight and will take the bull by the horns for positive results.
Dr. Enow Abrams Egbe did not fail to hail the directorate of the Elections Managing Body, who has been reappointed recently by presidential decree.
He praised Dr Essousse Erik and Mr. Abdoulkarimou whose managerial skills, patriotic dedication and tremendous actions have resulted in another confidence from the Head of State.
“…I would like to congratulate, on behalf of the Board, the Director General of Elections, Dr. ESSOUSSE Erik, and his Deputy, M. ABDOULKARIMOU on their reappointment by the President of the Republic. M. Director General, this renewed confidence is a testament to your esteemed managerial skills, experience, and patriotic dedication to addressing the major challenges inherent to the electoral process. Rest assured of our unwavering commitment to a smooth collaboration. Once again, Congratulations!!” He said.
The session was also marked by the examination and adoption of the institution’s budget and special dotation for 2024. And most importantly, the adoption of the terms of reference for the field trip of Members of the Electoral Board scheduled from January 12 to 27,2024. The two-week field trip is part of activities to supervise the launch of the annual electoral register revision operations nationwide.
Elise Kenimbeni
