British High Commission Reaffirms Support for North-West Public Independent Conciliator
The British High Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (PIC) of the North-West Region, with particular emphasis on strengthening the institution’s capacity through technical cooperation and digital transformation.
This assurance was given during a working visit by Mr. Cleatine Asongwe, Political Adviser, and Ms. Lisa Jennians, Second Secretary of the British High Commission, to the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator in Bamenda on 21 July 2026.
The British delegation was received by the Public Independent Conciliator, Mr. Simon Tamfu Fai, alongside Research Officers Mr. Ndi Nelson, Barrister Yang Francis Fombi, Dr. Tilarious Atia, and Communication Consultant Mr. Ephraim Banda Ghogomu.
The visit provided an opportunity for the British officials to gain deeper insight into the work of the Office and to update the institution on efforts being made to secure support following a high-level meeting held at the British High Commission in Yaoundé on 24 June 2026.
During the discussions, the Public Independent Conciliator disclosed that the Office has received 262 complaints since its creation and has successfully treated about 80 per cent of them. He explained that complaints outside the institution’s mandate are referred to the appropriate competent authorities. The complaints handled by the Office range from administrative injustice, property disputes, labour-related grievances, governance and ethical issues, breach of contracts, discrimination, and other human rights concerns.
Mr. Tamfu also highlighted the Office’s complaint management process, emphasizing the application of the adversarial principle to ensure fairness and transparency. He further briefed the delegation on the Debriefing and Benchmarking Workshop for Regional and Local Authorities held on 14 July 2026, while noting that the prevailing security situation in the North-West Region continues to limit outreach activities.
Commending the progress made by the institution, Ms. Lisa Jennians praised the Office for the strides achieved despite the challenging operating environment. She informed the meeting that the British High Commission had engaged several partners in an effort to mobilize support for the priority areas earlier identified by the PIC. Although no support package has yet been secured, she assured the Office that discussions are ongoing through different cooperation programmes and that the High Commission remains committed to establishing a long-term partnership.
The priority areas identified by the PIC include the development of a digital case management system, training in human rights and gender-based violence, mediation and alternative dispute resolution, forensic investigations, artificial intelligence, statistical data analysis, as well as sign language and Braille to improve inclusive service delivery.
Responding, Mr. Tamfu welcomed the continued support from the British High Commission, stressing that capacity building remains central to the institution’s development. He revealed that three members of staff were currently participating in training in Namibia under the auspices of the African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), while another delegation is expected to attend the Pakistan Ombudsman Association’s 30th anniversary activities in October. He also underscored the Office’s commitment to participating in international ombudsman conferences to learn global best practices and strengthen service delivery.
Ms. Jennians indicated that the proposed Digital Case Management System would receive priority consideration should support become available. The Public Independent Conciliator reiterated that the system would enable complainants to track the progress of their complaints online, thereby improving transparency, efficiency, and public access to the institution’s services.
The meeting concluded with both parties reaffirming their commitment to continued dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening good governance, accountability, and the protection of citizens’ rights in the North-West Region.