Commonwealth, ELECAM chart stronger partnership

The Director of the Political Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, Amitav Banerji, and some officials of Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, have discussed ways for stronger collaboration between the two institutions in order to foster true, well conducted and transparent elections.

Briefing the press on their discussion, AmitavBanerji said his visit to the ELECAM’s head office in Yaounde on October 7 is proof of the important relationship Cameroon shares with the Commonwealth.

“We have participated in observing elections in Cameroon. We were here for the legislative and municipal elections last year,” he said. According to him, the positive reports from Commonwealth observer missions to Cameroon reveal ELECAM’s ability to organise and manage elections.

“We believe that ELECAM plays a very important role as an institution responsible for elections and allowing the people to make their choice of Parliamentarians and Government. That is why I could not leave without discussing ways in which we can collaborate further,” Banerjisaid.

The Commonwealth senior official, however, stated that the observer missions’ reports also pointed out a number of issues which the Commonwealth proposed as subject of specific recommendations.

“Since I am here to attend the CPC, I have taken the opportunity to discuss some of those issues with ELECAM’s boss and the Government of Cameroon” he said.

Meanwhile ELECAM boss, Dr.Samuel FonkamAzu’u, said Elections Cameroon partnership with the Commonwealth has been very useful in the area of peer support, peer review and peer assessment.

FonkamAzu’u said ELECAM is ready to welcome the possibilities of many partnerships with Commonwealth given that ELECAM is one of the founding members of the Commonwealth Electoral Network, CEN.

“ELECAM is, therefore, willing to maintain the long standing partnership with the Commonwealth,” he added.