Bar Association settles for monopoly, insurance policy

Three quarters of the 2,500-member Cameroon Bar Association met in Buea, June 28, and adopted to have a monopoly as well as an insurance policy for all lawyers.

Speaking after the assembly, Bar President, Barrister Francis Sama said all the lawyers were unanimous on the resolutions taken, especially their crusade against the appointment of Notaries Public in the Southwest and Northwest Regions that practise the Common Law system.

The President of the General Assembly, Barrister Emmanuel Ntang, was upbeat about the Buea event.

“This is the first time that the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar has held in Buea; this is the first time we had a successful assembly. The occasion was so successful that it ended up in a confraternity gala and we danced the whole night,” Ntang enthused.

“But, when you organize an occasion, it is better for other people to assess it. However, we adopted a resolution for all lawyers to be insured and also for a monopoly of practice, you know in Cameroon all professions are protected by monopoly,” the General Assembly President stated.

Explaining the monopoly to The Post, Barrister Tanjong Ashuntantang analysed the context of the monopoly and why lawyers want it: “Labour matters are taken to the Labour Department, without the assistance of a lawyer; land matters are taken to the Land Consultative Board without the backing of a lawyer; lawyers must be the ones to counsel the litigants.”