Junior Magistrates Enhance Skills

Magistrates from 17 member States of the Organisation for Harmonisation of Business Law in Africa (OHADA) have begun upgrading their skills on the OHADA law. Holding on the theme "Complementary training of junior magistrates of OHADA member States", the training which began on Monday, November 12, in Douala is expected to end on Friday, November 16.

The objective is to enhance the training of magistrates by the Higher Regional School for the Training of Legal Officers (ERSUMA). With the recent holding of the Council of magistrates, the missions of OHADA were expanded and ERSUMA has a greater role to play when it comes to retraining and enhancing the skills of practitioners within member states.

Félix Onana Etoundi, General Manager of ERSUMA, disclosed that his organisation intends to go to all member states and offer training directly to the beneficiaries to assist countries in equipping their legal experts. Considering that OHADA itself does not offer initial training because they are offered at national levels by specialised schools, such as the National School of Administration and Magistracy, ERSUMA will be offering direct training to all member States in order to help cope with the rising needs for professionalism in business law. These trainings are meant for company counsels, notaries and legal officers, among others, to enhance their skills at community level and secure a future with professionals well-equipped to promote OHADA laws.

OHADA law is gaining grounds in the 17 member States, including Cameroon, according to Justin Melong, ERSUMA's Focal Point in Cameroon. He described the harmonised law as simple and applicable to economies. The session will examine issues such as pedagogic programme, OHADA treaty and the procedure for the adoption of the Uniform Act, practical problems posed by the ordinances as well as difficulties in executing some decisions within the organisation.

The Higher Regional School offered prizes to two best student researchers for their PhD in business law. They received FCFA one million and FCFA 750,000 respectively as well as text books. Headquartered in Benin, the School was created in 1993 under the OHADA Treaty.