CI-NEWS

Successful organization of elections by ELECAM: What makes Enow Abrams and Eric Essousse tick?

2020-04-07

No: 480

Successful organization of elections by ELECAM: What makes Enow Abrams and Eric Essousse tick?

By Paddy Besong T.

Enow Abrams Egbe is not afraid of difficult assignments. With the wisdom of hindsight, the President of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) has been determined to succeed where his predecessors failed. Since taking up the job, Mr. Enow Abrams Egbe refused to engage in any conflict or confrontation with the Director General of Elections (DGE), Erick Essousse.

The collaboration and mutual respect between him and Erick Essousse has enabled them scale obstacles which would have crushed them. And so after successfully managing four elections (April 2018 Senatorial election, October 2018 Presidential election, 9 February 2020 twin legislative and municipal polls and the 22 March 2020 Legislative poll) within the difficult circumstances, they are now directing their energies towards Regional Elections.

During a recent Electoral Board meeting held at the ELECAM headquarters in Yaounde, the President of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon . unequivocally declared ELECAM ‘s readiness in organizing Regional Elections in the country.

'’’ If the 9th February 2020 legislative and municipal Elections can be described as constituting major challenges notably in line with an effective implementation of the decentralization process as enacted by Government ,the upcoming Regional elections announced by the president of the Republic is already looking on the horizon .It is worth nothing that this will be the first elections of its kind and which means we don’t have to spare our efforts ,for we must without any delay get back to work,” the ardent and seasoned Senior Civil Administrator Abrams Egbe remarked.

Confident and proud of the professional expertise demonstrated by the General Manager of ELECAM, Dr. Erik Essousse, and his very efficient and dynamic team in organizing the last twin elections in freeness and fairness, the Board chair intimated: “A well merited bravo to the Managing Director of ELECAM, Dr. Erik ESSOUSSE, and his Deputy Mr. ABDOULKARIMOU, for their amazing leadership abilities leading to efficiency and the respect of the deadline scheduled for the polls.

The stewardships of Mr. Abrams Egbe and Dr. Erik Essousse at the helm of ELECAM have received plaudits from the international community and across the Cameroon. It is perhaps their professional effeciency and deligence in the organization of elections that have drawn in many partners to strengthen the capacity of members of staff of the institution. The Horizon Newspaper looks at the long-standing professional pedigree of these two distinguished gentlemen who are fast making history in revolutionizing the electoral process of Cameroon:

ABRAMS EGBE

Mr. Enow Abrams Egbe, (Nnem moh) President of the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) was born in Kepelle village in Manyu Division, Southwest Region of Cameroon in 1961,

He is married and father of 5 five children. He studied in the University of Yaounde ,and later gained admission into the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) in 1985, where he proudly graduated 2nd best of his batch.

Commander of the National Order of Valour, this super-scale senior administrator had held several positions prior to his appointment to the Electoral Board.

He was the legal and financial affairs adviser at the Governor’s office in the North West province from 1991 to 1993; Divisional Officer for Misaje in the Donga Mantung Division , 1993 to 1995. He proceeded to Menchum where he became Senior Divisional Officer from 2000 to 2003.

He was Governor of the South and Adamawa Regions from 2003 to 2005, and from 2007 to 2010, respectively.

After serving as Governor of Adamawa Region from 2010 to 2012, he was moved to occupy the position of Inspector General in charge of Territorial Administration in the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation in 2015. He was also President of the Anti Corruption Unit within MINATD in 2015.

Enow Abrams took oath before the Supreme Court, sitting as the Constitutional Council in 2017, to occupy the Position of President of the Electoral Board of ELECAM.

“”I swear to fully and faithfully discharge my duties and to exercise my office without fear or favour in accordance with the Constitution and laws in force to ensure the confidentiality of proceedings and votes , to refrain from taking public positions and to decline any consultation on matters falling under the purview of Elections Cameroon.”.

Dr. ERIK ESSOUSSE:

He was born on July 5th 1951, at Ndokagnak Subdivision in the Nkam Division in the Littoral Region of Cameroon.

Upon graduation from the University of Yaounde with a B A Hons in History in 1976, he moved to France where he obtained a Maitrise in International Relations from the University of Sorbonne 1 Paris in 1978, coupled with a higher Diploma in International Relations still from the University of Sorbonne in 1979.

In 1982, he obtained a Doctorate Degree still in the University of Sorbonne in Paris , coupled with a higher Diploma from the University of Paris in 1983.

Before his appointment as General Manager of Elections Cameroon, on May 28 2018, Dr. Erik Essousse had occupied several other functions.

He was Deputy General Manager of ELECAM, since 2008; Chief of Service for pubic freedom in 1983; and Subdirector of Political Affairs at MINATD in 1990. He moved to Sub-director of Elections at MINATD in 1996; Attache at the Secretariat General of the Prime Minister’s Office in 1998, and was in charge of Special Duties at the Prime Minister’s office in 2005.

He was a senior lecturer at the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) and was Co author of the book “”Digitalization of the Electoral process in Africa” by L’Harmattan in 2004, as well as author of Print Media Freedom in Cameroon, by L” Harmattan in 2006.

He is Commander of the National Order of Valour and holds many other distinguished recognitions.

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Successful organization of elections by ELECAM: What makes Enow Abrams and Eric Essousse tick?