South West: The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (OPIC) for the South West has released its 2024 report on the performance of regional and municipal councils, grading several as poor performers. The 107-page document, available on the institution’s website, scrutinized the relationship between local service users and their councils in the South West.

According to Cameroon News Agency, the report highlighted issues with Tiko Council, citing ‘bad faith’ in its dealings with service providers. Despite initial collaborative efforts by the Head of the Municipal Executive, an unexpected shift in attitude led to the involvement of the Local Representative of the State. In Kupe Muanenguba, the report criticized the concentration of power within Tombel’s council, where the Mayor’s actions rendered deputies ineffective. Alou in the Lebialem Division faced issues with its non-resident Mayor, affecting council operations.

Conversely, the Kumba City Council received praise for its citizen involvement in road development projects, marking an improvement from 2023. Wabane in Lebialem was recognized for its efforts in road rehabilitation and water provision, while Tinto in Manyu Division was commended for project execution despite challenging socio-political conditions.

The SW OPIC report recommended several measures to enhance council performance, including revising regulations governing OPIC’s functions and establishing autonomous garbage disposal systems. It also called for a review of financial allocations to councils, emphasizing the need for funds to be tied to previous project execution and community benefit.

The report was unveiled on April 1 by South West Independent Conciliator Madam Telelen Dorothy Atabong Motaze, attended by local authorities and rights activists at the institution’s premises.