Meme Division Wraps Up Week-Long Commemoration of African Decentralization and Civil Registration Days
A week-long series of activities commemorating the 15th Edition of the African Decentralization and Local Development Day (ADLDD) and the 9th African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Day has come to a close in Meme Division
The commemoration ceremony, held today Tuesday at the Kumba City Council Chambers, was chaired by the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Chamberlain Ntou’ou Ndong, and brought together administrative authorities, council and municipal officials, civil status personnel, staff of local councils and representatives of civil society organizations.
The celebrations provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on the progress, challenges and opportunities in advancing decentralization and strengthening civil registration systems at the local level.
In her welcome address, the Divisional Delegate for Decentralization and Local Development (MINDDEVEL), Mme Venus Elangwe Baliki, underscored the relevance of this year’s themes, noting that they address pressing development challenges facing local communities. She emphasized the need for greater collaboration between councils, government services and communities to translate decentralization into improved services and tangible development outcomes.
A major highlight of the closing ceremony was a presentation by the Mayor of Mbonge Council, HRM Daniel Matta Mokambe, on the challenges of birth registration in rural communities.
Drawing from the realities of Mbonge, the Mayor identified geographical distance as one of the major obstacles, with residents in remote communities often having to travel considerable distances to access civil status services. Poor road infrastructure further compounds the problem, making access particularly difficult for families in hard-to-reach areas.
He also highlighted the activities of middlemen, missing supporting documents and cases involving children born in remote locations, including undocumented births occurring in the bushes, as challenges requiring innovative and coordinated solutions.
The presentation brought to the fore the importance of taking civil registration services closer to the population, particularly vulnerable communities in rural and hard-to-reach areas and this vital information helps in development strategies of the communities.
The Mayor of Konye Council, Barrister Mosima George Lobe, on his part, examined the importance and challenges of digitalizing civil status services. He noted that digitalization can significantly improve efficiency, accessibility, data management and the preservation of civil status records.
However, he pointed to several obstacles confronting councils in the digital transition, including poor network connectivity, unreliable electricity supply, inadequate hardware and other logistical limitations. Addressing these gaps, he noted, would be essential for ensuring that digital civil registration becomes effective and accessible to all.
The presentations generated discussions on the need for stronger investment in civil registration infrastructure, improved connectivity, adequate equipment, capacity building for civil status personnel and innovative approaches to reaching populations in remote communities.
The Senior Divisional Officer for Meme used the occasion to call on Mayors to prioritize workers salaries which challenging the workers themselves to work for the interests of their councils. He also visited the exhibition stands mounted by the various councils, where council teams showcased projects, achievements, services and initiatives undertaken within their respective municipalities. The exhibition offered an opportunity for councils to demonstrate the practical impact of decentralization at the grassroots level.
The closing ceremony equally featured the awarding of prizes to winners of the various competitions organized during the week-long programme. The awards recognized participants who distinguished themselves in the different sporting, knowledge-based and other activities organized as part of the celebrations.
The week-long programme, which began on Tuesday, August 4, featured a blend of educational presentations, quizzes for civil status secretaries, discussions on environmental management, inter-council sporting activities and awareness-building engagements.
This year’s African Decentralization and Local Development Day was commemorated under the theme:
“Empowering Local Authorities for Sustainable Water and Sanitation: Advancing Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Cities and Territories Towards Agenda 2063.”
Meanwhile, the 9th African Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day was observed under the theme:
“Consolidating the Achievements of APAI-CRVS and Securing the Future of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Africa Through Integration, Decentralization and Digitalization.”
The closing of the celebrations marks the end of the official week-long programme, but the discussions and recommendations generated throughout the activities underscore the continuing responsibility of local authorities and their partners to make decentralization more responsive, inclusive and effective.
