ELECAM: Abdoulaye Babale avoids trial

New ELECAM officials appointed since September 29, 2015 were installed Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at the headquarters of ELECAM, in Bastos, Yaounde.

At the same time, some of the staff forced to retire were thanked. The Dg of ELECAM addressed his "direct and sincere thanks after excellent and loyal service" to the nation, reports the Mutations newspaper on October 22, 2015.

The milestone of this farewell ceremony for employees on early retirement is the immediate availability of their retirement packages. Minutes after the ceremony, the DG of ELECAM Abdoulaye Babale, ensured the issuing of final settlement to staff who are up for early retirement.

"People affected (about eight people) have been paid in turns, based on the calculations of the remaining months of salary. 13 months for some, less for others. The operation took place under the watchful eyes of the chief of Legal Affairs and General Counsel, Andrew Ewang Sone", we learn from the newspaper. The people in question signed a commitment to "not bring any lawsuit against ELECAM," it is reported.

Abdoulaye Babale was accused among employees that he wanted to oust his predecessor Sani Tanimou. Sani Tanimou, appointed in 2008 as Director General of Elections in ELECAM, was sacked in 2015 by a decree of the President of the Republic.

His successor Abdoulaye Babale, after his arrival, began to put some of the former employees in early retirement. This created great unease among staff of ELECAM.

"The new appointment of officials appeared in the Cameroon Tribune of Wednesday, October 14 [2015] carrying confusion and misunderstandings. Some decisions were signed by Fonkam Azu'u, President of the Electoral Council, others signed by Abdoulaye Babale, the Director of the elections," reveals Mutations.

Journalists still in service at the national television (CRTV) are appointed to the communication unit, and the texts mention that they were previously executives of ELECAM. The newspaper mentions Charles Ndoh Ebune appointed assistant responsible for study 2 at the communication and press office. In service to CRTV, he is on the air on the national television including the programme "Hello" and the program "Globewatch" which he continues to present. Yet, Abdoulaye Babale indicates in the act appointing him that he was "previously" working with ELECAM, we learn in the newspaper.

In contrary, Flora Meke until her appointment, was still serving at the CRTV. She took office in the position of ELECAM's first assistant in charge of monitoring.