Mayor Ketcha Courtes receives UN Award

The Mayor of Bangangte, Celestine Ketcha Courtes, will today June 26, 2014, in a ceremony in Seoul, Korea Republic, receive the UN Public Service Award.

She would be given the distinction alongside 18 others from some 14 countries across the globe for their effort in fighting poverty and promoting sustainable development.

Ketcha Courtes is being acknowledged for a project she carried out geared at providing potable water to all the inhabitants of Bangangte. It is not the first time Ketcha Courtes is being honoured for good work.

In 2012, her council area won the first prize in local development initiatives when she constructed ecological latrines in schools and markets.

The 50-year-old dynamic woman with over five years spent at the helm of the Bangangte Council, has through her interpersonal skills, managed to maintain her municipality as the cleanest, not only in the West Region, but even at the national level.

The indefatigable lady, was president of the darling local side, Panthere alias Nzuimanto, in their glorious campaign to the last Cup of Cameroon final.

For her, difficulties are not part of her vocabulary, but rather solutions.

This explains why she has been at the forefront, grabbing prizes here and there with the latest, being the UN Public Service Award for her “sustainable work in the water sector and sanitation.”

However, the UN Public Service Award is the highest honour she has received so far as it is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It celebrates service to the community and promotes professionalism and visibility of the public service.

The 2014 edition of the UN Awards falls within the framework of celebrations marking the UN Public Service Day commemorated every year on June 23 in a chosen country.

The 2014 Forum and Awards are being hosted by the government of the Republic of Korea and organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

The winners of the first place are from Austria, Bahrain, Brazil, Morocco, Oman, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Uruguay. Second place winners are Bahrain, Brazil, Cameroon, India, Republic of Korea and Spain.