Boosting registration on electoral list: Batouri Council launches operation 2,000 free ID cards.

It is intended to boost the process of registering the population of the municipality on electoral lists.

It is in this light that the Mayor of Batouri, Auberlin Mbelessa, who doubles as Section President of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party, in Kadey Nord I, convened a working session with a number of stakeholders.

In attendance was the Head of the Permanent Divisional Delegation of the CPDM in the Kadey, former Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Ernest Ngbwaboubou.

The session also saw the presence of CPDM, WCPDM and YCPDM section presidents and executives of the party as well as municipal councillors of the Batouri Council.

During the session, several officials including the representative of the Ministry of Justice, head of the identification unit of the Batouri Public Security Police station and the head of the ELECAM branch, explained in turns the process of obtaining the national identity cards and the different steps to follow to ensure their issuance on time. 

The different officials insisted on the importance of respecting the administrative steps and providing the necessary documents to facilitate the process.

Mayor Auberlin Mbelessa emphasised the importance of this initiative for the Batouri community. He also encouraged the different stakeholders to actively collaborate to achieve the set objectives. 

According to the Mayor of Batouri, the initiative is not only an opportunity for the citizens of the municipality to exercise their right to vote, but it also contributes to strengthening the bond between local authorities and the populations. 

Mayor Mbelessa said the project highlights the importance of legal identity in the democratic process and constitutes an example to follow for other regions of Cameroon. 

The involvement of local authorities and communities, he said, will be essential for the success of this endeavor and to ensure that every citizen can make their voice heard.

The beneficiaries of project are Cameroonians of voting age resident in Batouri, without ID cards and who do not yet have their names on electoral registers.

The issuance of the free ID cards which is said to have already started will run through till August 31st, deadline for registration into electoral list and yearly revision of electoral registers.

By facilitating access to identity documents, the “Citizenship for All Cameroonians” project responds to a fundamental need for recognition and belonging, while encouraging broader and more inclusive participation in democratic processes.

The project is benefitting from the support of the CPDM Central Committee Permanent Divisional Delegation to Kadey Nord I section, as well as certain local elites. 

This approach is part of a broader effort for citizen participation and social inclusion, essential for strengthening local democracy.

The free distribution of national identity cards to the most deprived people is a significant step towards improving citizen participation in the development of their municipality and Cameroon as a whole. 

By Nkengafac Naomi Eya* (student journalist on internship)

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3141 of Friday June 14, 2024