Staff Reporter |
Pan-African housing parastatal, Shelter Afrique, has announced that Cameroon will take over the chairmanship of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) Bureau at the housing symposium slated to take place between 20 to 26 June 2021 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Kenya’s Transport, Infrastructure and Housing Cabinet Secretary Mr James Macharia who is the current Chairman of Shelter Afrique Annual General Meeting (AGM) Bureau will hand over the mantle to Cameroon’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development Ms Celestine Ketcha Courtès at the Company’s 40th AGM and annual housing symposium thus scheduled to take place in Yaoundé.
Courtès was elected the 1st Vice-Chairperson of the AGM Bureau at the Company’s 39th AGM held in Nairobi. As new Chairperson she will be deputised by Zimbabwe’s Minister of National Housing and Social Amenities Mr. Daniel Garwe.
“When I assumed the Chairmanship of Shelter Afrique AGM Bureau at the Company’s 38th AGM in Morocco, no one had foreseen a pandemic of COVID-19 magnitude,” said Macharia.
“Despite all the challenges we were able to adapt fast to the new realities. I am happy to announce that the Company’s performance surpassed our expectations. The Company turned around and posted a profit of US1.85 million in 2020 in spite of the challenges of the pandemic.
“Shareholder contributions to Shelter Afrique doubled in support of the revived well governed institution. I am certain that the incoming leadership will enjoy similar goodwill from shareholders, the board of directors, management and staff.”
On her part Courtès thanked shareholders for endorsing her, as well as thanking Macharia for his effective leadership of the AGM Bureau.
“The plans to host the best ever 40th AGM and 40th Anniversary for Shelter Afrique are at an advanced stage, and the beautiful hard working people of Cameroon are well prepared and eager to host the 44 Housing Ministers and 44 Finance Ministers that would be arriving in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from the 20th to the 25th June 2021,” Courtès stated.
“We are looking forward to hosting the Finance Ministers and Housing Ministers that will be present from the 44 member countries, Africa Development Bank, Africa-Re, global lenders from EIB, AFD, BOAD, KfW, NCBA, Ghana International Bank and other key stakeholders in the housing and financial sectors as we seek to collectively find pragmatic solutions to the housing crisis in Africa, more so during this post-COVID-19 era.”
Appreciating Mr Macharia for his great leadership and welcoming Ms Courtès as new Chairperson and Honorable Garwe as new Vice-Chairman, Shelter Afrique Chief Executive Officer Andrew Chimphondah promised that this year’s AGM will go beyond the financials, not just because of the prevailing situations presented by a global pandemic but because the company will also be marking its 40th Anniversary.
In the photo: Cameroon’s housing minister Ms Celestine Ketcha Courtès signing the AGM Bureau hosting agreement.
