BE SERIOUS ABOUT CORRUPTION IN CAMEROON

The government of Cameroon appears recently, as it may have been before, to be taking the issue of wide spreading corruption seriously! Some high ranking officials alleged to have embezzled public funds continue to be arrested. But their numbers are reported insignificant. What they swindled is also far from being recovered. The public continues at a loss, especially with the knowledge that those under arrest may never be fairly tried and could one day join the many other alleged embezzlers reported free to swim with their associates in the apparent ill-gotten wealth.

To some, the government anti-corruption actions are simply designed to soothe apparent public anger, in view of the unrelenting poverty in the country, and in the process, evade serious continuing scrutiny. Others believe the government is responding to ‘mounting’ international community pressure to ‘do something’ about ‘curbing’ corruption in Cameroon.

Indeed, there is a committee in the capital city, Yaounde, made up of donor nations/organisations represented by their ambassadors or resident missionaries who press for such actions. But their influence on the government has been so-so in view of the government’s considerable income from oil and other revenues. Another international community category that could come under the government’s other revenue sources sector is international financial institutions including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Government relations with these sources have been rocky but profitable to both sides since Cameroon’s political economy crisis started in 1986/87. So many believe the government and financial institutions are at it again to reach another deal, now called ‘completion point’, to get the government more loans and/or debt cancellations.

In the end, it is widely held that corruption would not even be dented. And many in prominent positions at all state and society levels wonder how it should ever be! Why should they be prevented from rubbing the public as others do or have done and are out there, or soon will be, enjoying their harvests? So, notwithstanding government anti-corruption efforts, corruption in Cameroon seems to be business as usual, as many seem to be saying to whoever, “think and do what you may to combat corruption, but we will not co-operate with you to end the practice”!

Press statements of a former minister, Garga Haman, on ongoing corruption within government in Cameroon are telling. He was in charge of a Disciplinary Council for Budget and Accountability commission at State Control, where he identified but was unable to prosecute several (at least 42) public fund embezzlement cases involving one (1) billion or more CFA francs. He claims to have informed President Paul Biya about his findings, but got no go ahead with prosecutions from him even as, he says, the President didn’t refuse to have the people tried. Did he need the President’s endorsement to prosecute? Is the President the law in Cameroon?

Five issues, which government anti-corruption efforts are yet to deal adequately with, standout clearly: (1) The definition of corruption in Cameroon; (2) The scope and thoroughness of investigations of alleged corruption; (3) Free and fair trails for those accused of corruption; (4) Recovery of stolen public funds; and, (5) How the recovered funds are put to use.

Establishing Progressive Order

At the moment, confusing frustration can be said to be the order for the vast majority of people in Cameroon. They have long been waiting in vain for improvements in their condition. But, instead of getting better as expected, living conditions continue to deteriorate for this majority.

And then, of course, elections will come again. Politicians of all sorts will surface, to promise and promise as well as try to discredit one another as much as possible, often with insults and even blackmail. In the end, the elections will be poorly organised and result in controversy. And for some at least, lack of “free and fair elections” in this democratic era might appear to be what holds back their progress!

Now, let us suppose elections in Cameroon were perceived to be even as free and fair as they appear elsewhere, would the new order result the expected improvements in living conditions for the vast majority of the population?

Perhaps! Answer, is that good enough? No, as the situation around the world and in Cameroon attest. Throughout history, where there has been oppression in society, policy processes have often been dominated by competencies that are less in touch with social conditions of the entire population. And when other capabilities arise to stake a claim in the policy process, the tendency has been for those in dominant positions to feel threatened and in many instances organise to block or frustrate claims of the new contenders.

Elections like coup d'états can, and do, help change personnel in policy processes. But they do not necessarily create and/or bring in competencies that are more in touch with social conditions of the entire society.

Awareness of entire society conditions appears too big a thing for many in positions of power including election minded politicians and power hungry coup leaders to handle effectively. But since anyone can learn when confronted with the facts, it falls to society to ensure that those in positions of power find the facts and address them with the necessary sensitivity and competence through all policy processes.

Some years back when Cameroon’s political economy crisis was not as grave as it is at the moment, the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, was asked in a public interview whether he was aware of the corruption in the country. He asked the interviewer for proof, made other menacing remarks, and the matter appeared left to rest! Reactions to the President’s attitude towards corruption have since been varied, many critical, but few are those who have publicly insisted that the President and other public authority institutions such as the National Assembly (Parliament) and the police investigate the issue and act on findings.

Corruption notwithstanding, and deteriorating conditions for the vast majority of the population, there have been elections (some with more than one candidate), which the President has won! He has reshuffled his governing team more times than many in known history. Even for many of his supporters, living conditions don’t seem to get better. The facts don’t seem to be getting to the President and he appears far from those with the relevant competence in policy making and implementation.

The point is this, elections or coups including sudden death, which some people seem to prefer, wouldn’t necessarily alter this situation in Cameroon or anywhere else in the world. It falls to society to educate itself and ensure that its leaders and all those with public authority seek the facts, find and address them with the necessary sensitivity and competence through all policy processes, continually.

Hence our invitation to you, to join us in our quest to find, describe, analyse and disseminate the various day-to-day efforts that individuals make in society to engage their leaders and public authorities, as well as document the effects they have. Some of these we will be featuring in this Blog and soliciting your comments, reactions and contributions. Others will be presented in our other platforms, including the EITD Research Public Policy Forums, e-Citizens project discussion boards, Cameroon Budgets project discussion boards, the Virtual Space African Peer Review Mechanism (VS-APRM) project discussion boards, and e-Citizens in Society initiative boards. We also invite you to visit these platforms regularly and contribute as much as you can to them.