Archbishop Andrew Nkea, President of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC), says Cameroonians should inscribe their names on the electoral register in order to take part in the 2025 parliamentary, municipal and presidential elections of the country. He was speaking at the start of the 49th Plenary Assembly of the National Episcopal Conference which is taking place in Yaounde and began on April 7th to wrap up on April 13, 2024.
“2025 is the year for presidential elections and we exhort every Cameroonian to register and express their civil rights to vote and we also call on the powers that be to ensure that Cameroonians recognize themselves in their votes which we expect to be free and to be fair” the NECC president said, noting that this is one of the subjects on the agenda of the 49th plenary assembly of the National Episcopal Conference.
The Bishops attending the meeting, chaired by the NECC president, are Catholic bishops, drawn from the five Ecclesiastical Provinces that make up Cameroon that is Bamenda, Yaounde, Douala, Bertoua and Maroua
Talking about other issues under focus at the meeting, the NECC President cited rising cost of living, social media abuse, proliferation of fake news, abusive exploitation of natural resources, lack of employment for the youth and homosexuality. He noted that, NECC would do something within it’s powers to handle these questions and challenges faced by the Church and the state .
Within the context of the 49th NECC meeting, the bishops wake up with the daily routine of morning prayers (Lauds) and Holy Mass. They continue with meetings and deliberations in various commissions including the Education Commission, Apostolic Commission and Communication Commission. A final communique is expected from the bishops at the end of the meeting.
By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum