The Public Independent, Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze speaking during the meeting
The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (OPIC) on Thursday, September 4, 2025, convened a concertation meeting with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from the South West Region at the Buea Mountain Hotel. The gathering, themed “Office of the Public Independent Conciliator: In Synergy with Civil Society Organizations to Enhance Good Governance and Social Cohesion in the South-West Region,” aimed to foster collaboration to strengthen local governance and social cohesion.
Some CSO leaders speaking during the Concertation meeting
This follow-up meeting which comes after an earlier engagement meeting held in 2022 was attended by notable CSO leaders, including Dr. Meg Agbor of Changing Mentalities and Empowering Groups (CHAMEG) and Esther Oman of Reach Out Cameroon. The PIC, Mme Telelen Dorothy Motaze, described the forum as an opportunity to rethink collaboration, build trust, and promote peaceful coexistence through genuine synergy between local governance institutions and CSOs.
OPIC’s Research Officer N0.1 doing a presentation on the missions of the institution during the meeting
Discussions centered on establishing mechanisms for ongoing partnership, identifying governance gaps at the grassroots level, and supporting regional and local authorities in implementing good governance. Participants agreed on actions such as holding regular meetings, creating a WhatsApp forum for continuous dialogue, and encouraging CSOs to participate in budget sessions and town hall meetings.
Partial view of the hall depicting Civil Society Organizations in attendance during the meeting
In terms of promoting peace and social cohesion, CSO leaders committed to promoting peace education and encouraging civic engagement. This meeting marks a pivotal step toward creating a more transparent, responsive, and trustworthy governance framework in the South-West Region, with the partnership aiming to enhance their collective impact for the benefit of local communities.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to work collaboratively, leveraging their respective strengths to foster a more harmonious and prosperous South-West Region.
