Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Washira Helene
Published on 2024-02-21 14:21:01
In a heartwarming story shedding light on the ongoing difficulties faced by certain individuals in Cameroon, Nguofack Franck, a 34-year-old resident of the Deido district in Douala, hosted a joyous celebration on Monday evening to commemorate the long-awaited arrival of his original identity card after a challenging six-year wait.
Franck’s journey began in 2018, when he applied for his national identity card—a crucial document for everyday tasks such as banking and voting. Unfortunately, bureaucratic obstacles delayed his application, leaving him without official identification for years, only receiving a temporary cartoon copy with a supposed three-month validity while waiting for the original.
Undeterred by the setbacks, Franck remained hopeful. He continued to make numerous visits to the 9th police district in Deido, consistently following up on his original copy despite encountering repeated delays. Finally, yesterday marked the culmination of his perseverance as he finally collected his long-awaited ID card and was handed the elusive original.
Overwhelmed with joy and a sense of relief, Franck chose to celebrate in a unique way. He gathered his friends and treated them to a celebratory meal before a night of dancing and partying at a nearby club.
“This ID card may seem like a small piece of plastic, but to me, it represents so much more,” expressed Franck. “For the past six years, I’ve felt like I was living in the shadows, unable to fully participate in society. Now, I finally feel like a full Cameroonian.”
Franck’s story resonates with many Cameroonians facing similar challenges in obtaining identification documents. The issue of delayed ID card deliveries has affected hundreds of individuals, with some waiting for their original copies for almost a decade, and sadly, some passing away without ever receiving it.
The standard process involves receiving a cartoon copy on the same day as the application and obtaining the original after a three-month waiting period. However, in recent years, individuals have faced nightmarish delays, sometimes even being asked to redo the entire process.
In October of the previous year, the Delegate General for National Security (DGSN), the government entity responsible for issuing identification documents, announced plans to engage a service provider for biometric ID cards on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis. According to Martin Mbarga Nguélé, DSGN chief, this initiative aimed to establish three autonomous biometric identity card production facilities in Yaounde, Douala, and Garoua, along with 15 contemporary biometric enrollment posts in each of the country’s ten regional headquarters.
However, as of now, no progress has been observed, leaving many Cameroonians frustrated and feeling abandoned in their struggle for identity cards. Despite these challenges, some maintain hope that the vital document will be delivered within 48 hours, offering a glimmer of optimism in the face of bureaucratic obstacles.
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
