South-West Governor H.E Bernard Okalia Bilai on Friday 27 January paid an acquaintance visit to the premises of the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator. The visit is the first of its kind by the Governor as Representative of the State to the institution since it went operational in July 2021.
The event also attended by the President of the Regional Assembly, Bakoma Elango Zacchaeus, administrative and elected officials, civil society organizations as well as religious authorities was marked by cultural display, inter-denominational prayers led by the Imam of Buea and the representative of the Bishop of the Buea Diocese, was concluded with a tour visit of the offices.
The Governor of the South-West Region Bernard Okalia Bilai, the Public Independent Conciliator and other dignitaries with personnel of OPIC
While welcoming the Governor and other dignitaries, the Public Independent Conciliator, Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze noted that the acquaintance visit falls within the framework of the core values of the institution which is to strengthen collaboration with authorities of the region, public institutions, stakeholders and partners with whom it cooperates to attain its objectives. The event, she further stated, underscores the commitment of the institution to be at the service of citizens and service users. She expressed hope that the occasion would make the population of the region more aware the office is fully operational.
The Lingombi Dance Group of Bokwango gracing the event with a cultural display
The occasion was also an opportunity for the Public Independent Conciliator to acknowledge the support of the Governor as well as convey a message of gratitude and appreciation to the Head of State H.E President Paul for the allocation of the office space to the institution.
While speaking during the event, the Governor exhorted stakeholders to collaborate with OPIC so that it fully meets its expectations. He also used the occasion to laud Government’s efforts to make institutions put in place after the Major National Dialogue go operational in the South-West Region. “These institutions are there to help the local population to solve their preoccupations, he reiterated and added. “It is for the stakeholders, population, external and internal elites to make good use of the institutions by rendering it fruitful”, Governor Okalia Bilai said.
The Governor of the South-West Region Bernard Okalia Bilai guided by the Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze during tour of office premises
It is important to recall that the Office of the Public Independent Conciliator was created in 2020 under the provisions of chapter III, Section 367(1) of the General Code of Regional and Local Authorities within the framework of the Special Status granted the North-West and South West Regions, pursuant thereto Decree No. 2020/773 of 24 December 2020 laid down the conditions for discharge of duties of Public Independent Conciliator in the North-West and South-West Regions.
The Office went operational after the Public Independent Conciliator for the South-West Region Mme Telelen Dorothy Atabong spouse Motaze took oath of Office at the Buea Court of Appeal on Tuesday July 6 2021. After functioning from the Buea Mountain Hotel for over a year, the Office moved into its current premises in July 2022.
