CENTRAL – LOCAL RELATIONSHIP IN CAMEROON AND ITS EFFECTS ON PARTICIPATION AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL.

CENTRAL – LOCAL RELATIONSHIP IN CAMEROON AND ITS EFFECTS ON PARTICIPATION AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL.

performance of these institutions can be attributed to this
relationship and fourthly to recommend a model through which this
relationship can be strengthened in favour of the councils. For
this work to have some focus, two hypotheses were formulated. The
first states that the relationship between the central and the
local government institutions in Cameroon is characterized more by
control and command than mutual reciprocity in the exchange of
resources. The second states that this relationship above has
minimized the active participation of the local population in the
activities of the councils.
Results from the analysis of the various data indicated that
councils in Cameroon are not as autonomous as the^Law implies,
neither do they possess the human, material and other temporal
resources necessary for the effective accomplishment of their
traditional developmental functions. The various central
government actors charged with the responsibility of supervising
the councils (communes) exercise wide powers of control and
command on the various council authorities. Results from the data
also confirmed that the high degree of central government control
on the councils has negatively affected the active participation of
the local population in the activities of these institutions
located at the grass-roots. It further indicated that the high
level of central government control and the minimal participation
of the local population have in turn reduced the ability of the
councils(communes) to perform their functions. In other words the
effective performance of the councils has been hampered by the
above relationship.
The work therefore, ended with the conclusion that the
environment within which councils(communes) are existing in
Cameroon is so inclement and so unconducive to the extent; that the
survi-cl of these institutions is threatened. The environment
needs an overhaul so as to extricate these institutions from the
intricate network of controls exercised by the centre on the
periphery. Relying on modernization theory, the work recommends
the creation of a pluralist society which permits open
competitions, bargains and compromises. A society which permits
the effective existence of governmental and non-governmental
organizations such as organized political parties, interest groups,
professional and religious associations among many others, t
further demands the effective decentralization ol power,
responsibilities and resources within the governmental machinery,
thus creating room for the existence of local self-government!
Decentralization in this case is effected through devolution, thus
extricating the councils from the suffocating grip of the central
government authorities.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title page- – – – – – – – – i
Approval page – – – – – – – -ii
Dedication – – – – – – – – -iii
Acknowledgement – – – – – – – -iv
Abstract – – – – – – – – – -v
Table of content – – – – – – – -vi

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION – – – – – – – -1
1.0 Background of the study – – – – -1
1.1 Statement of the problem – – – – -5
1.2 Purpose of the study – – – – – -6
1.3 Significance of the study – – – – -8
1.4 Research questions – – – – – -9
1.5 Scope of the study – – – – – – -10

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW – – – – – – -11

CHAPTER THREE

Research methodology – – – – – – -39
Design of study – – – – – – – -40

CHAPTER FOUR

Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data – -48

CHAPTER FIVE

Summary of findings – – – – – – -60
Conclusion – – – – – – – – -61
Recommendations – – – – – – – -62
Suggestions for further research – – – – -64
References – – – – – – – – -65
Appendix I – – – – — – – – -68
Questionnaire. – – – – – – – -69

CENTRAL – LOCAL RELATIONSHIP IN CAMEROON AND ITS EFFECTS ON PARTICIPATION AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL.

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