Cameroon’s national census faces significant organizational hurdles

Cameroon’s fourth national census is currently navigating a period of considerable difficulty. Originally set to conclude on May 29th, the comprehensive population and housing enumeration effort has been extended by two months through a decree signed by Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Far from easing tensions, this decision has intensified criticism from various civil society groups, who are highlighting severe organizational flaws in what should be a foundational statistical exercise for public policy formulation.

Philippe Nanga, the coordinator for the non-governmental organization Un Monde Avenir, expressed strong disapproval, describing the process as a “general cacophony.” He emphasized the critical importance of this initiative for national planning. Nanga pointed to a telling example of the logistical disarray: in Douala, the nation’s economic hub, census agents reportedly abandoned their duties after merely ten days in the field, citing a complete lack of remuneration.

A strategic statistical undertaking under duress

For any nation, a census serves as the bedrock of public administration. It directly influences electoral redistricting, the allocation of budgetary resources to local authorities, the appropriate sizing of educational and healthcare infrastructure, and the credibility of macroeconomic projections. Cameroon, having last conducted an official count in 2005, has long suffered from a scarcity of up-to-date demographic data. Consequently, the stakes for this fourth edition extended far beyond a simple numerical update.

The two-month extension implicitly reveals the magnitude of the challenges encountered on the ground. These difficulties have mounted since the operation’s inception, including incomplete coverage of rural areas, delays in equipment distribution, and insufficient training for some enumerators. The social unrest initiated by agents in Douala further underscores a more systemic vulnerability: issues within the payment chain and the management of human resources deployed for such a large-scale undertaking.

Civil society monitors a vital national process

Through Un Monde Avenir, Philippe Nanga represents a segment of Cameroonian civil society organizations that meticulously scrutinize major institutional processes. His public statements aim less to discredit the census itself and more to demand accountability for its execution. Beneath the critique lies a fundamental question: will the results generated under these conditions be statistically reliable and politically undeniable? This query is particularly pertinent in a country where disputes over official figures, whether demographic or electoral, are frequent occurrences.

The extension mandated by the Prime Minister’s office theoretically provides an opportunity for recovery. However, this hinges on the availability of adequate financial resources. Observing NGOs are cautioning that a hurried operation risks providing only a partial snapshot of the Cameroonian population. Furthermore, international benefactors such as the World Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), traditional partners in such exercises across the continent, are also closely monitoring the methodological rigor of national enumerations.

Sending a clear message to public authorities

Beyond Cameroon’s specific situation, this debate highlights a shared challenge for several francophone African states: conducting comprehensive censuses amidst tight budgetary constraints, hard-to-reach territories, and security concerns in certain regions. Cameroon’s previous census in 2005 also experienced multiple postponements before its final results were published in 2010. Two decades later, the nation still struggles to adhere to feasible timelines for its statistical operations.

Nevertheless, Philippe Nanga’s recent public intervention could significantly impact the ongoing public discourse as the extended deadline approaches. Authorities are expected to demonstrate transparency in the system, settle outstanding payments to field agents, and communicate intermediate indicators. Failure to do so risks having the fourth census remembered in Cameroon’s administrative history more for its shortcomings than for its scientific contributions.