The North West Region has taken a major step towards modernizing civil status management with the official launch of the digitalization of civil status documents in Bamenda III Municipality.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at the Bamenda III Council Hall, was presided over by Saidouna Ali, Secretary General at the North West Governor’s Office, who represented the Governor of the Region.
The launch marks the beginning of a new system aimed at transforming the registration and management of vital records, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, through digital technology.
Speaking at the event, Saidouna Ali said civil status documents are essential instruments that establish a person’s identity, citizenship, family ties, and legal status.
He explained that properly managed civil status records enable citizens to access education, healthcare, employment, voting rights, migration services, and other opportunities.
“Civil status documents are not mere papers,” he said, stressing that the digitalization process would improve the quality and reliability of public services.
According to the Governor’s representative, the move from manual to digital registration will help speed up the issuance of documents, reduce errors, improve record security, and make verification easier.
He said the initiative would particularly benefit residents of Bamenda III Municipality by providing quicker access to certificates while reducing risks linked to lost, damaged, or fraudulent documents.
Saidouna Ali called on civil status personnel, community leaders, and citizens to support the reform by ensuring timely registration of births, marriages, and deaths.
BUNEC describes initiative as a historic milestone
The North West Regional Chief of the National Civil Status Registration Office (BUNEC), Levi Fongen Neba, described the launch as a historic achievement for the region.
He said Bamenda III Council had become the first municipality in the North West Region to begin producing digital civil status documents. “This is not only a technical event; it is a major step towards improving service delivery, strengthening governance and promoting identity security for citizens,” he said.
Levi Fongen Neba noted that the previous manual system created challenges, including delays in obtaining documents, loss of records, difficulties in verification, and weaknesses in data management.
He said digitalization would provide a more accurate, secure, and transparent system for managing civil status information.
The BUNEC official appreciated the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other partners involved in the initiative, while urging local authorities to ensure proper training, supervision, public awareness, and maintenance of the digital infrastructure.
Council promises better services to the population
The Mayor of Bamenda III Council, Fongu Cletus Tanwe, said the municipality embraced the digital system to improve service delivery and protect citizens’ records.
He explained that the initiative would help prevent fraudulent documentation, address the issue of missing records, and ensure that every child has access to proper civil status documentation. “Going digital means that we want to secure the system, avoid fraudulent documents, and make sure the issue of missing documents should no longer be a problem,” the Mayor said.
He added that the reform would also ensure that marriages and other important life events are properly recorded.
The digitalization of civil status documents in Bamenda III Council is expected to serve as a model for other municipalities in the North West Region as Cameroon continues efforts to modernize public administration and strengthen identity management systems.
@Laarry Times
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