North-West PIC visits Oku Cultural and Development Association

In line with the three-month Campaign to Promote Good Governance in Regional and Local Authorities, the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator of the North-West Region paid a working visit to the Oku Community on Sunday, 17 August 2025. The event was hosted by the Oku Cultural and Development Association (OCDA).

The purpose of the event was to raise awareness on the existence of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator, its role and missions, as well as the obligations of the population towards Regional and Local Authorities.

Barrister Yang Francis Fombi, Research Officer no. 2 at the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator educated the population on the creation, organization and functioning of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator. Mr Ngodji Rais, Executive Officer no. 1 talked on the Complaint Management Procedure and Madam Nina AMBUBAN, Research Officer no. 5 gave a presentation on how citizens can participate, embrace council actions in their communities in line with the campaign to promote Good Governance in Regional and Local Authorities.

Some notables were glad to know that the PIC has come to bring sanity in the conduct of Regional and Local Authorities.

Some members of the Oku Cultural and Development Association were pleased to know that their community was represented in the PIC staff set up by Barrister Yang Francis.

Experts from the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator responded to all questions raised and gave a description on how to locate the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator.

This field sensitization was described as timely by the President of the Oku Cultural and Development Association (OCDA Bamenda), Chi Walter Ndifon. According to him, without adequate information about the PIC, and about their own responsibilities and those of local governance structures, citizens cannot effectively participate in decision-making or hold duty bearers accountable.

After the visit, the Oku Cultural and Development Association better understands its role in local development and good governance.