Published on : 14/07/2022 – 11:13
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Getting married, registering a birth or a death has become very complicated in the North West region of Cameroon. Targets of the separatists, public buildings have been deserted in risk areas. Municipal services have taken refuge in Bamenda, the regional capital. To register for civil status, the inhabitants of rural areas and small towns have no choice but to travel, with all the difficulties and risks that entails.
« It has been a very stressful journey to get here to Bamenda “says a young woman. To get married, she had to travel 55 kilometers on a dangerous stretch of road in poor condition. ” We couldn’t bring our family because we don’t have any money. We spent three nights here, you have to buy the food, pay for the hotel. There are many people in the village who can’t even afford to come here like us.. »
This father came with his son. At 18, he needs a birth certificate to take his exams: I have been here for two days. In Batibo, the municipal council is closed. The mayor told me to come here to Bamenda. I do not know anyone. I had to pay 20,000 CFA francs for the hotel. But I still haven’t seen the mayor and I have to leave without the document, it’s terrible. »
“Public services are attacked by our own brothers”
Within the urban community of Bamenda itself, municipal buildings had to move due to insecurity. Tsé Louis Angwafo, mayor of Bamenda 2, now officiates in a prefab in the city center: “ Public services are attacked by our own brothers, it’s a nightmare, really. Whatever dreams we have, we gotta spare the utilities, and let normal people have normal lives.. »
Users are sometimes redirected to NGOs to help them in their procedures.
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