NW Regional Assembly: Road covered so far in four years of existence.

This is the focus of the 14th Ordinary Session of the regional body, which kicked off Monday in the North West Regional capital, Bamenda.

The session, which comes four years after the Regional Assembly went operational, will run till Wednesday. 

It is being chaired by the President of the North West Regional Assembly, Prof Fru Angwafo III. This is in the presence of North West governor, Adolphe Lele L'Afrique, who is representing the State. 

Also present are members of the North West Regional Assembly and other invitees.

The session is taking place under the theme: "Review of 2021-2024 project performance and consolidation of 2024 investment projects".

According to the president of the North West Regional Assembly, the session is dedicated mostly to the review of projects, “because we want to measure the impact of projects on the population and the distance covered so far”.

"As we convene for the September Ordinary Session, we find ourselves 45 months into our 60-month mandate. This moment presents a timely opportunity to evaluate the ground covered so far and review the projects executed from 2021-2024,” he said. 

“The review focuses on ensuring that our initiatives have been executed with equity and spatial territorial coverage, especially considering the ongoing socio-political crisis that has resulted in significant movement of populations within and out of the Region," Prof Fru Angwafo added.

Encouraging back-to-school 

Another key issue discussed during the opening of the session, yesterday, was the ongoing academic year.

While congratulating the regional councillors, education stakeholders and parents for contributing enormously to the success of the last school year, Governor Adolphe Lele L'afrique challenged the entire population of the Region, not to be distracted by those propagating school boycott messages.

He said: "The excellent results recorded at all levels in all examinations organised during the last academic year, placing the North West Region high up the academic ladder of excellence, have only come to shame the detractors. I am therefore urging each and every one not to be distracted by these misguided fellows”.

The first day of the September Ordinary Session also served as an opportunity for participants to discuss projects that have been identified through consultations with local communities, Civil Society Organisations, CSOs; peace and development committees, and other stakeholders.

According to the President of the Regional Assembly, this will form the basis of the debates and programmes for 2025.

Other discussions centered on the improvement of healthcare access, the role of North West Development Investment Fund, NOWEDIF, in implementing the regional development plan, and peace building; conflict resolution in view of the Peace and Development Initiative project.

The session will end with the distribution of back-to-school items and certificates of excellence to some outstanding students and schools.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3232 of Tuesday September 17, 2024