1996 constitution architect, Prof Joseph Owona, dies.

The erudite professor of constitutional law passed away Saturday January 6, in Bordeaux, France, following an illness.

The son of the deceased, Prof Mathias Eric Owona Nguini, who is Vice Rector at the University of Yaoundé I, wrote: "The great man is gone. Our beloved father and respected patriarch, Professor Joseph Owona, left us on 6 January 2024".

It should be noted that Prof Joseph Owona played a preponderant role in the drafting of the 1996 constitution as he headed the Technical Committee for Drafting of the Constitution of Cameroon, made up of seven Francophones and four Anglophones. 

The committee to draft the constitution was an offshoot of the Tripartite Conference that was convened by President Biya in Yaounde, from October 30 to November 18, 1991. 

Reacting to the death of the eminent professor and statesman, renowned lawyer and anti-corruption advocate, Barrister Akere Muna, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), that: “I just received the sad news of the passing of Professor Joseph Owona, one of the most esteemed professors of constitutional law in Africa. He had a close relationship with the Muna family and was one of the few individuals my father allowed into his bedroom during his illness”. 

“As an exceptional intellectual, he had a humble and approachable demeanor. His appointment to the constitutional court was seen as a means to enhance the academic excellence of this prestigious institution. As he embarks on his journey into eternity, let us pray for the peaceful repose of his soul. My heartfelt condolences go out to his entire family,” Akere added.

Meanwhile, in a homage to the deceased, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, wrote: “…he rendered good and loyal services to the nation, under the supreme magistracy of President Paul Biya”. 

“We remember Prof Owona, whom his students affectionately called J.O., as a flamboyant and exemplary master of the legal sciences, which he taught with an effervescent intelligence and incandescent eloquence, reflected in his many reference publications,” Prof Mouelle Kombi wrote. 

“We bow our heads before the memory of this monument of the university, who by the fortunate chance of life, was also an illustrious predecessor in the functions of Director of the International Relations Institute of Cameroon, IRIC, and Minister of Sports,” Prof Mouelle Kombi added. 

Prof Joseph Owona the man

Born on January 25, 1945, the native of Akom in the Ocean Division of the South Region completed his Primary, Secondary and University education in Cameroon before moving to France. He returned to Cameroon in 1972, after studying at the University of Paris I Sorbonne. 

In 1977, he became the first Cameroonian to hold the ‘agrégation’ in public law and political science. His profound scientific knowledge and political commitment earned him appointments to several positions of responsibility in the University of Yaounde I.

In 1985, he was appointed Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, an appointment that marked his long career in government. He was Minister of Higher Education from 1990 to 1992; Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic from 1992 to 1994; Minister of Public Health from 1994 to 1996; Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Supreme State Control from 1996 to 1997; Minister of Youth and Sports from 1997 to 2000 and Minister of National Education from 2000 to 2004.

When the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT, was going through a long leadership crisis, with all its negative consequences, Prof Joseph Owona was appointed President of the Normalisation Committee in 2013, a position he held until 2015. 

On April 15, 2020, the Head of State appointed him as a member of the Constitutional Council, to replace Jean Foumane Akame, a member of the same prestigious institution who had died some time earlier. 

As a professor, Joseph Owona published extensively, especially in the area of law and public administration and decentralisation.

He also played a prominent role in Cameroon’s legal team during the border dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula.