This was the first time that UIHJ came to Cameroon, said Jacques Isnard, president of UIHJ. Cameroon is a member of UIHJ since 1982. This official visit is very important to us. It was all made possible because of the active work and the indefectible will of Polycarpe Diméné Yomba, president of the CNHJC, and his team. Mr Diméné considers that the coming of UIHJ in Cameroon marks a decisive step towards greater achievements for the profession in Cameroon. “This seminar created an unprecedented mobilization of our colleagues.” he said. “More than two third of us have come. This seminar started a collective wake. We have realised the importance of international stakes. We will lead the profession in Cameroon to a successful entry in the 3rd millennium.”
The UIHJ delegation, lead by its president, Jacques Isnard, consisting of Mathieu Chardon, member of the Committee, and Rose-Marie Bruno, lecturer at the ENP, received an extremely warm welcome. During an official visit at the Chancery, a meeting was held between the UIHJ delegation and Mr Georges Ngwanmessia, general secretary of the Minister of Justice, representing the minister of Justice, Mr Kouam Tekam, Director of non repressive affairs and the seal, Mr Oumarou Bamanga, Director of the general administration, Mr Tengen Pius Werengoh, Director of Legal professions and M. Emile Nsoga, Director of Criminal affairs and reprieve.
During the meeting, Jacques Isnard pointed out the brilliant work performed by the Cameroon enforcement agents et their president, Polycarpe Diméné Yomba. Mr Isnard recalled the importance of training for UIHJ. “The world of jurists has its place and a balance must be stricken with the business world. We work in the international field with this ambition in mind.”
The delegation also paid a visit to Mr Idrissa Kéré, Director of legal affairs and relations with the institution of the Ohada. Since long ago, UIHJ has developed strong ties with Ohada and fully supports the admirable work of harmonisation of this organisation. Mr Kéré answered: “We too are on your side. We follow your work et highly respect your courage and determination”.
The opening ceremony of the seminar was held by Mr Kouam Tekam, Director of non repressive affairs and the seal. More than 25O participants were united in the prestigious Congress palace of Yaoundé, located on one of the seven hills that dominate the city. The participants were mainly enforcement agents from Cameroon, but also from Benin, Congo and Tchad. They shared audience with many representative of the Judicial world, Judges, executive authorities, as well as representatives of banks and humanitarian associations.
During the two days of the seminar, in the growing heat that characterize the end of the rainy season, themes followed in front of a highly reactive and responsive audience. The Uniform Acts of Ohada were often at the centre of the five main themes that constituted the program of the conference: Garnishee orders (by Mr Paul Gérard Pougoué, professor at the University of Yaoundé II and Bordeaux - France, and Mathieu Chardon), interlocutory measures (Mathieu Chardon and Ebeneze Maah, enforcement agent in Cameroon), injunction for payment (Rose-Marie Bruno and Claudine Mougni, member of Ufohja, enforcement agent in Cotonou - Benin), the legal value of enforcement agents' documents (Mathieu Chardon and Pierre-Marie Tchuenkam, former president of CNHJC), the assistance of public authorities while enforcing (Jacques Isnard), and ethics and discipline (Rose-Marie Bruno and Auffret Louzingou, former president of the National chamber of enforcement agents of Congo-Brazzaville).
At the end of a perfectly organised seminar, as everyone mentioned, the participants encountered for a last evening together, in front of an unforgettable African fashion show, under the bewitching sound of Balafons.
Full report of the seminar and the meetings in the next issue of UIHJ Magazine (to be published in May 2005).
