All roads in the Commonwealth will lead to Cameroon from October 02 to 10, 2014. 

The 23 million people who make up this triangular shaped nation fondly referred to as Africa in miniature have the singular pleasure to play host to the 60^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), an association that is so far recognised as one of the prestigious arms of the gentleman club.

The CPC from every indication represents a veritable forum where the people’s representatives from the CPA’s 175 parliaments and legislatures brainstorm and to an extent design ways through which they can promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy as well as enhance knowledge and the understanding of democratic governance.

The host country Cameroon and its Head of State, President Paul Biya sees the organisation of the conference as a unique opportunity for law makers to share the experiences of their parliaments and enrich their legislative knowledge.  The conference which is taking place under the theme: Repositioning the Commonwealth for the post-2015 Development Agenda will help build an informed parliamentary community able to deepen the commonwealth’s democratic commitment.

As a forum that will enable members discuss issues that directly touch the life of the people, the Yaounde confab leaves no one indifferent. Topics such as Unity in Diversity: the role of parliament; joining hands for women’s rights, good governance for the 21^st  century; placing young people at the centre of sustainable development, providing for the vulnerable in society and evaluating the emergent content of the post-2015 Development Agenda  will feature prominently in the discussions. These issues are so dear to humanity and Cameroonians will certainly follow with so much legislative anxiety.

Law makers who effectively begin deliberations today are certainly anxious to know what the country is reserving for them. Cameroon is a country of 23 million people, hospital in character and naturally peace-loving. The country enjoys a presidential political regime and has seven political parties in its parliament. Cameroon is administratively split into ten regions and prides itself with rich touristic sites. This nation of over 250 ethnic groups became the 52^nd member of the Commonwealth during the Auckland Summit in New Zealand which held from November 11 to 13, 1995.

Participants at the Yaounde conference will have the opportunity to visit some of the country’s touristic sites and to be told that prominent sites in the country include: Mount Cameroon otherwise locally called Fako Mountain, relics of the volcanic eruption in Bankigili, Korup Park, Waza Park, Lobe Waterfalls, and traditional chiefdoms of the grass field among others. They will understand that they are visiting a country that gained independence in two different stages; January 01, 1960; independence of the Republic of Cameroon (East Cameroon) and October 01, 1961; independence of West Cameroon through reunification with East Cameroon.

The warmth with which CPA MPs are being welcomed into the country is readily a translation of the smooth cooperation between the organisation and Cameroon. The Commonwealth it should be recalled has been instrumental not only in the drafting of Cameroon’s electoral code or the putting in place of the Electoral body (ELECAM) but has participated in the supervision of several elections in the country. In all, it has played an important role in shaping the political, social and educational life of the country. Once more, all Cameroonians monosyllabically say “Welcome.”