FIGHTING CORRUPTION


FIGHTING CORRUPTION: A PERMANENT TASK FOR CAMEROONIAN LEADERS


The topic of corruption has become a major pre-occupation of the government of Cameroon and its people over the years. The establishment of specialized institutions by the government is anticipated will help lower levels of corruption, ultimately helping the country better the growth of its economic and social development programmes. However, it will take permanent and consistent efforts by government leaders to ensure that anti-corruption policies and strategies implemented will work effectively, argues a Cameroonian MP.


Hon. Lisinge Arthur Ekeke, MP Mr Ekeke is a Member of Parliament for Buea, South West Region Cameroon


Universally, corruption is acknowledged as one of the greatest constraints to development. Where corruption prevails, resources are wasted, grassroots empowerment and development programmes are mismanaged and abandoned; investors are deterred and potential for development in communities and individuals remain untapped. Consequentially, economic and


social development programmes lag behind and poverty increases. According to the World Bank Group and Transparency International, in developing nations and emerging economies, approximately USD $20 to $40 billion is lost annually because of corruption. With Cameroon’s adoption of


the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and its establishment of specialized institutions, such as the National Financial Crimes Investigation Agency (ANIF), the Ministry of Higher State Control, the Finance and Budget Disciplinary Council (CDBF), the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court and the National Anti-Corruption Commission (CONAC), the government aims at


26 | The Parliamentarian | 2014: Issue Three - Cameroon


putting a comprehensive and holistic combat to contain and ultimately significantly lowering the levels of


from the 1990s onwards and even today, has principally been a broad understanding of the acts and manifestations of corruption. An average Cameroonian if


Hon. Lisinge Arthur Ekeke, MP


corruption nationwide within private and public service institutions serving the Cameroonian people. The phenomenon of corruption


therefore is not new to the current government but problematic to understand and to identify for the average Cameroonian. Many of the problems and


dilemmas with which previous anti-corruption institutions and ordinary citizens of Cameroon in general have had to struggle with


asked is capable of listing only a few sets of inordinate acts by public and private officials as manifestations of corruption – notably misappropriation of public funds and bribery. This alone makes it increasingly difficult for citizens to partner with government in tracking and reporting acts of corruption, thus making the inclusive and collective battle of curbing corruption a daunting task for our present anti-graft institutions and civil society.


Understanding the term It is important as a first step for current leaders to commit themselves to providing Cameroonians with a concrete understanding of what the broad term of corruption means and how it manifests itself on a day-to-day basis in our present society. In any credible effort against corruption, the ability to perceive is central and needs to be strengthened in citizens and society by its leaders.


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