Cameroon losing fight against corruption
April , 2014
Cameroonians have lost faith in governments to combat endemic corrupt practices, with feelings that it will take a total overhaul of the regime to win this war.
Corruption in the form of active and passive bribery, extortion, money laundering and misuse of public funds for private gain is criminalized by the Penal Code and punishment can include a prison term, a fine plus seizure of assets. Art 66 of the Constitution stipulates that government officials declare their possessions; the government has still not implemented the provision.
Cameroon has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and has signed, but not yet ratified, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.
A number of measures have however been put in place over the years to fight corruption.
The CHOC-Cameroon programme (Change Habits, Oppose Corruption) was launched in February 2007.
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC) is the main anti-corruption agency in Cameroon. It has investigating capacities and has a mandate to gather and analyze allegations and information about corrupt practices. The findings of a CONAC inquiry can ultimately lead to disciplinary or legal proceedings. However, CONAC cannot freeze, seize or confiscate assets, nor does it have the power to refer cases to court or other disciplinary institutions. CONAC is under the authority of the president and the chairman, making the impartiality of the institution questionable.
There is the National Agency for Financial Investigations that aims to eradicate and prevent money laundering and terrorism financing in Central Africa.
Cameroon has two supreme audit institutions. The Superior State Audit is a ministry under the Presidency of the Republic.
The Court of Auditors of the Supreme Court reviews the accounts of certified public and other practicing accountants.
In spite of all these institutions that all have the similar objective of fighting dishonesty, corruption still thrives.
Apparently angered that the institutional framework to step this vexing canker worm in the bud were not yielding fruits government opted to go in for a massive and near intimidating arrest of top government functionaries entangled in corruption rackets. Thus, the now famous "Operation Sparrow Hawk", better known by its French language acronym "Opération Epervier". The operation so describes the attitude of the sparrow hawk when it follows and snatches its victims – in this case, individuals who are alleged to have embezzled public funds.
The truth is that corruption wouldn't have been widespread in Cameroon if this anti-corruption crackdown went into effect 32 years ago when President Biya, became president. Yes, today, every vote holder in this regime wants to retire a billionaire or at least a millionaire.
Though for now "Operation Sparrow Hawk" is landing mostly on "Big Fishes", it is great time the authorities that be, take a look at what is happening at the bottom.
Even then most Cameroonians have lost confidence in this operation. How much has been recovered from those so far arrested and sentenced. Some like Prof Titus Edzoa, Theirry Atangana, Ondo Ndong, have even received presidential pardon and now enjoy their freedom. How much of the billions they were accused has been recovered? Why is someone arrested today for allegedly swindling state funds and the next day he is released with flimsy excuses? Cameroonians are yet to be told. Why can something good not come out from this country?
From a taboo subject some two decades ago, when even the highest authority of the state asked for proves to be convinced that corruption existed in Cameroon, corruption is now an open topic of everyday conversation, and even addressed at the highest levels in Presidential speeches.
Some advances no doubt have been made in the war against corruption. Despite these advances, there are still a lot of challenges related, but not limited to, formal institutional and constitutional changes that can usher in effective check and balances, civil society participation in public debates, and decentralization.
According to most partners, improving governance and fighting corruption are perhaps the most critical factors in increasing growth and broad-based development in this country to the levels necessary that can significantly reduce poverty.
But should poverty be blamed for the endemic corrupt practices in our society? I wonder given, that you and I don't even have what to embezzle. It seems rooted in the veins of a system. And it may require a total overhaul of such a system, to win any battle against corruption otherwise, it is a lost war.
Mokun Njouny Nelson
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