Priest appointed to ELECAM: A turning point for electoral transparency?
By Synthia Lateu
On May 19, 2025, President Paul Biya signed a decree appointing Father Bell Mathias Stéphane to the Electoral Board of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), replacing the late Pierre Titi. The appointment has sparked mixed reactions across the country, with public debate centering on whether this move could help restore trust in the electoral body ahead of the upcoming presidential election.
Paul Ngueche, a resident of Douala, expressed cautious optimism: “I believe with the arrival of this man of God, things might change. Religious leaders are often God-fearing and can bring positive transformation. Let’s wait and see how things unfold.”
Others remain skeptical. Telacboh Fidele commented: “Elections in Cameroon won’t change just because a man of God has joined ELECAM. Not all religious figures are trustworthy—some even use religion to justify wrongdoing.”
Njonque Ricardo was more cynical: “There will be no change. If God truly existed in Cameroon, one man wouldn’t have ruled for 42 years.”
Father Bell will serve a renewable four-year term. University law lecturer Louison Essomba emphasized that the priest’s appointment is legally and constitutionally valid: “As a citizen, he is fully entitled to participate in the democratic process—even as a member of a state institution.”
“This is not the first time the President has appointed a religious figure to a public office,” Essomba continued. “We’ve seen similar appointments at institutions like CONAC and CICAM. Religious leaders are, first and foremost, citizens of this country.”
He also argued that Father Bell’s presence on the board could help improve ELECAM’s credibility: “Who better than a religious authority to help restore trust in an institution that has faced intense pressure? The President is exercising his discretionary power to appoint whom he sees fit to lead.”
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment. The Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon has been increasingly vocal in its criticism of the government’s handling of electoral matters. In a recent pastoral letter, the National Episcopal Conference called for a consensual electoral code and outlined the qualities it believes a 2025 presidential candidate should embody.
