Winds Of Change In OAPI Top Management – Trademark

The Board of Directors authorised the launch of a recruitment
procedure for a new CEO, subsequent to the dismissal, with
immediate effect, of the Deputy Director General (DGA) of OAPI, Mr
Jean-Baptiste Noël Wago on 13 May 2022.

This is unfortunately a further difficulty with top management
as the CEO, Ivorian Denis Bohoussou Loukou, was suspended 14
October 2021 by the president of the Board of Directors, the
Beninese Alimatou Shadiya Assouman. There were allegations of
financial embezzlement.

Mr Jean-Baptiste Noël Wago was appointed as the interim
CEO, but the takeover was not incident free. Allegations of
apparent power struggles between the suspended Mr. Loukou and Mr.
Wago clouded the appointment in office.

The press release issued by the board of Directors did not
mention the reasons for the dismissal.

The current DG now has the responsibility to recruit a
consultant to conduct a study on OAPI reforms, which report must be
submitted to the Management Board at its session on 24 June
2022.

The positive message is that the apparent crisis
will not affect the efficiency of our local office in the
expediting of our intellectual property matters in the territory.
Rest assured that we are monitoring the situation and will ensure
that our activities are, as far as possible, not disrupted by the
apparent political turmoil.

https://www.investiraucameroun.com/economie/1605-1

The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.