Today, Wednesday, 18 July 2009, the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization, Mr MARAFA HAMIDOU YAYA, presided at the opening ceremony of the National Seminar on city council management at the Yaounde Conference Centre. Besides the heads of the central services of some ministries, the following personalities are in attendance: Senior Divisional Officers responsible for supervision over city councils, Government Delegates to City Councils, Subdivisional Council Mayors, former Provincial Service Heads for Councils, Secretaries-General of City and Subdivisional Councils and the Heads of FEICOM Regional Agencies. The French and German technical cooperations, the National Programme for Participatory Development and the Special council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance (FEICOM) are assisting MINATD in the organization of this important seminar. A better perception of the role of each of the stakeholders involved in the management of City Councils is expected at the end of the proceedings on Friday 10 July 2009.
Following is the full-text of the opening speech of the Minister of State, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization.