In a decisive vote marked by reformist energy and digital innovation, lawyers from across Cameroon re-elected Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah as President of the Cameroon Bar Association, while ushering in a dynamic 15-member Bar Council that includes seasoned legal minds and new voices.
Held at the Yaoundé Multipurpose Sports Complex from July 15 to 16, the elective General Assembly gathered over 3,000 lawyers, who voted ina historic first for the Bar.
Mbah Eric stays on
Re-elected for another two-year mandate, Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah will continue steering the Bar through a period many see as foundational. His first term, beginning in 2022, was marked by institutiional achievements including the launch of the Bar Secretariat construction, championing of common law advocacy, and elevated support for lawyers’ welfare.
The 15 Elected to Council
- Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah
- Barrister Anne Yolande Ngo Minyogo
- Barrister Agbor Nkongho
- Barrister Zangue
- Barrister Fojou
- Barrister Philippe Memong
- Barrister Epey Ebi
- Barrister Stanly Muluh
- Barrister Moussa Ganava
- Barrister Kontchou
- Barrister Tepi Koloko
- Barrister Emmanuel Nkea
- Barrister Tamo David
- Barrister Fouegoum
- Barrister Ngoulla
Harvard-Trained, Bamenda based lawyer steps in
Barrister Stanly Muluh's election to the Bar Council brings with it a bold, modern agenda driven by global perspective and local commitment. With a Master’s from Harvard Law School in Artificial Intelligence Law, Governance, and Security, and another LL.M in Finance and Law, he’s completing a PhD in Microfinance Law at the University of Bamenda.
His campaign slogan, “The Lawyer First”, reflects a vision focused on welfare, mental health, digital transformation, and ethical renewal. He’s also a certified OHADA trainer and compliance expert, with experience reforming financial law institutions across Africa.
“We’ve been told youths are the future—well, the future is now,” he told Hilltopvoices.
In the North West, he’s known for supporting pupil advocates with resources and training, while mentoring young professionals in corporate and ethics law. Asked if he was ready for greater responsibility, he answered simply:
“I am qualified.”
With his blend of legal intellect, youthful energy, and a clear-eyed reform agenda, Muluh represents a generational turning point for the Bar.
Tradition broken
For the first time in decades, all three top leadership positions at the Bar are now held by Anglophone lawyers:
- Bar President: Mbah Eric Mbah
- General Assembly President: Gbaka Ernest Acho
- Vice President of General Assembly: Edward Lyonga
This development ends an informal tradition that previously ensured linguistic balance at the top of the Bar which is a system where Francophones and Anglophones alternated key positions. Many observers now see this shift as a sign of meritocracy overtaking custom.
The road ahead
Top priorities for the new Bar Council include:
- Completion of the Bar Secretariat headquarters
- Expansion of digital tools and e-learning for lawyers
- Advocacy for judicial reform and independence
- Better welfare mechanisms for lawyers across Cameroon
With experienced and fresh voices now in council, including a visionary reformer like Stanly Muluh and a returning President with unfinished work, the Bar’s next chapter may be both bold and defining.
By Hilltopvoices Newsroom Email: hilltopvoicesnewspaper@gmail.com Tel: 6 94 71 85 77