Professor Joseph Owona, the former member of Cameroon’s Constitutional Council, is set to be laid to rest this Saturday, February 17, in his hometown of Akom, Ocean Division in the South Region. The esteemed public and constitutional law professor passed away at the age of 79 in France on January 6, 2024.
While his loved ones remember him for his statesmanship, many Cameroonians, particularly Anglophones, will forever recall him as a figure who played a role in the ongoing conflict during the drafting of the current constitution.
In the early 1990s, Prof. Owona led committees tasked with drafting a new constitution for the country. Serving as the chairperson of the technical committee established by the tripartite conference in 1992 and subsequently heading the constitutional consultative committee set up by President Biya, Owona crafted a constitution that significantly enhanced presidential powers over those of the people. The constitution, enacted into law in 1996, centralised authority within the executive branch.
Critics argue that if Prof. Joseph Owona had heeded their concerns during the constitution drafting process, the turmoil in the Anglophone regions might have been averted, and President Biya might not have secured a lifetime presidency.
Dr. Simon Mumzu, a member of both committees, asserted that Owona prioritised the interests of the powers that be over addressing the governance challenges facing Cameroon. Dr. Mumzu, along with two Anglophones, Prof. Carlson Ayangwe and Barrister Ekontang Elad, opposed Owona’s proposed draft, which concentrated power in a highly centralised unitary state.
Dr. Mumzu and his colleagues advocated for the restoration of a federal system of government in Cameroon to address issues of governance, and the subjugation of citizens from Southern Cameroons, and to establish a more balanced distribution of power among the branches of government.
Their proposed federal draft constitution was vehemently rejected by Owona, who dismissed it on national television, labelling it as a mere copy of the Nigerian Constitution. As Professor Owona is laid to rest in Akom, the tears shed there echo the pain felt in Anglophone Cameroon, where many believe Owona’s decisions stifled their voices.
Southern Cameroon once operated under a federal system until May 20, 1972, administering its affairs effectively with institutions such as the West Cameroon Bank, airlines, seaports, power plants, and a well-structured government system. However, the teleguided referendum in 1972 led to their loss of autonomy, resulting in marginalization and underdevelopment. The persistence of the Anglophone crisis is seen by many as a consequence of these issues that could have been addressed in the 1996 constitution.