Northwest Region (Cameroon) - Administration

Administration

The Northwest Province (since 2008 known as the Northwest Region) is the third most populated province in Cameroon. It has one major metropolitan city: Bamenda with several other smaller towns such as Wum, Kumbo, Mbengwi, Ndop, Nkambé, Batibo, Bambui and Oshie. The province saw an increase in its population from about 1.2 million in 1987, to an estimated 1.8 million people in 2001. The population density, at 99.12 people per square kilometre, is higher than the national average of 22.6 people per square kilometre. The provincial urban growth rate is 7.95% (compared to the national average of 5.6%), while the rural growth rate, at 1.16%, is equal to the national rate. According to the Statistical Provincial Services of North-West Province in 2001, the population of the province is largely a young one, with over 62% of its residents aged less than 20 years. The dependency rate is therefore high in the province, particularly in the rural areas.

Like other provinces in Cameroon, the North-West Province is made up of administrative divisions. The province was created in 1972 with five divisions or departments: Bui, Donga-Mantung, Menchum, Mezam and Momo. Today, it has seven divisions; the new ones are Boyo (carved out of the Donga-Mantung division) and Ngo-Ketunjia or Ngoketunjia (carved out of Mezam division). Each division is made up of subdivisions. There are thirty-one subdivisions in the North-West Province. The basic unit of local government, however, is the council; there are thirty-two councils in the province.