By Noela EBOB BISONG
Following a recent ordinance by Cameroon’s Head of State, H.E. Paul Biya, the amount of stamp duty for the issuance of National Identity Cards, Residence Cards and Resident Cards has been set at FCFA 10,000.
The announcement is contained in Ordinance No. 2024/001 OF JUNE 20, 2024 modifying and supplementing certain provisions of Law No. 2023/019 of December 19, 2023 on the finance law of the Republic of Cameroon for the 2024 financial year, which establishes new regulations concerning stamp duty for the issuance of the aforementioned cards.
The regulations outline that stamp duty can be collected against issuance of a receipt, which must mention the amount and the corresponding references, which will then be shown on the card issued. A special receipt has been opened for this purpose to guarantee the traceability and authenticity of transactions. According to reports, the move is aimed at making the process to acquire such documents more transparent as well as to facilitate access to them.
The new set-up applies to both people of Cameroonian nationality and foreigners residing in the country.
National Security launches project to issue ID cards in 48 hours
Prior to the announcement of the new stamp fee, the general delegate for National Security (DGSN), Martin Mbarga Nguele, on June 19, inaugurated the National Center for the production of identity documents in Yaoundé. The inauguration it is believed is a swift move to cut off all the noticeable delays in the production of ID cards in Cameroon and brings the entire process to just 48 hours. According to Mbarga Nguele, it could even be possible to obtain an ID Card in less than one or two hours in certain situations.
The move follows a groundbreaking announcement made by the general delegate last January 24 that a new identification system guaranteeing the delivery of ID Cards within 24 hours will go operational in 2024.
This follows the success of the biometric passport being issued within two days.
In partnership with the German-Portuguese consortium INCM-Augentic, the project includes the construction of the main center in Yaoundé, as well as two annex centers in Douala and Garoua. The contract with INCM-Augentic was signed last May 13 in Yaoundé. Each center will be equipped with 25 enlistment stations. In addition, identification centers will be established in the country’s 58 divisions, each with 15 to 20 enlistment posts. The project aims to facilitate the identification of Cameroonian citizens and foreigners by granting them the appropriate identity titles.
Urging Mayors to provide premises for new positions, Mbarga Nguele says, “This investment also includes the renovation of existing identification stations in public security police stations and the development of new stations in town halls”.