What is the autonomy of municipal councils in Cameroon

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of this study is to assess the autonomy of municipal councils in Cameroon, case study of the Buea Council. One of the most complex and critical problem facing organized societal actors in Africa today is the need for political space to mobilize autonomously from the state and from the party in power. Those organizations that have asserted the greatest autonomy have generally been able to select their own leaders, push for far-reaching agendas, and involve themselves in politics to a greater extent than organisations that have been tied to the regime and/or dominant party, either formally or through informal patronage networks. From findings a majority of respondents were in total acceptance to the fact that the central government should allow local councils to make their decisions so that the Buea council should fully enjoy its autonomy as provided in the Cameroon constitution. The quantitative research method was used in this study. 84% of the respondents were in total acceptance with the fact that the central government should provide Funds to local councils so that the Buea council should fully enjoy its autonomy as provided in the Cameroon constitution. Findings from questionnaires again show that an overwhelming majority (94%) of the workers were in total acceptance to the fact that the central government should allow local councils to implement their decisions in accordance to the fact that the Buea council should fully enjoy its autonomy as provided in the Cameroon constitution. Finally, majority of the workers were in total agreement with the fact that the central government should decentralize powers so that the Buea council should fully enjoy its autonomy as provided in the Cameroon constitution.