Akere Muna goes tough on gov’t over endemic corruption!.

The multi award-winning legal luminary made the scathing criticism Thursday July 11. This was during an exchange he had with media practitioners at his Bastos residence in Yaounde.

The meeting with the press was organised as part of activities to observe the 8^th edition of the African Anti-corruption Day, which is celebrated every July 11.

It was attended by several personalities, amongst them the United Kingdom, UK, Deputy High Commissioner to Cameroon, Robert Fitzpatrick; and the Senior Political Advisor of the High Commission, Cleatine Asongwe. 

Also in attendance were some political figures like the former candidate for the post of Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, party, Godden Zama; the Secretary General and Vice President of the Union of Peoples of Cameroon, UPC party.

The African Anti-corruption Day, it should be noted, was adopted at the Second Ordinary session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Maputo, Mozambique on July 11, 2003. 

The idea is to enable African countries pause to reflect in-depth on the actions they have taken to combat corruption in their communities, the progress they have made and the areas for improvement.

This year’s edition was celebrated under the theme: “Effective mechanisms for whistle-blower protection: An essential tool in the fight against corruption”.

The meeting with the press was an occasion to present the state of corruption in the country. Akere also did a detailed presentation on the latest development of the Glencore affair.

Lack of political will to tackle corruption 

Speaking at the gathering, Barrister Akere Muna, without mincing words, stated categorically that the country lacks what he described as the political will to flush out corruption.

“The keyword is political will. In Cameroon, I don’t see the political will. This is Glencore affair, you have the criminals, and they have admitted, we have the documents, we have the figures. What has happened? Nothing,” Akere bemoaned.

He added that: “We have confessed criminals roaming our streets and nobody is saying anything. I do not see the political will. Institutions do not change people”.  

Akere told press men that corruption in Cameroon is both endemic and systemic. This, he explained, is because the system is corrupt, and the people too are indifferent to corruption. 

He went further to prescribe systemic change as the panacea to bring in what he christened a “new future”.  

Corruptible fighting corruption

According to Barrister Akere Muna, those who are supposedly combating corruption in the country, ironically are those who are rather supposed to be investigated.

“Our system of fighting corruption in Cameroon is like expecting the fish to fry itself. In this country, those who investigate are those themselves who are supposed to be investigated. Mentalities have to change,” Akere stated.  

Strikes CONAC over Glencore affair

Barrister Akere Muna seized the occasion to strike the National Anti-corruption Commission, CONAC, for its lack of support in uncovering corrupt practices in the country.

He disclosed that despite contacting CONAC when he returned with the results of his findings on the Glencore affair, he has not had any meeting with the anti-corruption body. 

He, however, admitted that he has held talks with the Directors General of the Taxation Department, Customs Department, and even with the Head of the Judicial Police.

“…the file was sent to the judicial police for investigation…the judicial police came to see me, and I don’t know who has blocked it. So, there has been movements in all these areas. But CONAC, which is one of the government agencies charged with corruption, has done absolutely nothing,” Akere explained.

Gov’t not acting in interest of citizens

Reacting to the recent decision of the government to increase the price for the production of National Identity Cards, Barrister Akere Muna explained that it was proof that Yaounde is not acting in the interest of the population.

“In Gabon, it is free. It is also free in Cote d’Ivoire. If you take the certificate of nationality, you take the birth certificate, and for those who have to come from far away parts of the country to town to produce an ID card, you are easily at 20,000 FCFA,” Akere said.

According to Akere, “because you are poor, you cannot get an ID card. Worst still, the non-possession of an ID card is an offense. You can be arrested for not having an ID card. So, because you are poor, you are a potential criminal. It is not right”.

Akere also added that “you cannot build a society that punishes those who don’t have, when their inability of having anything is because people have stolen”.

Biya not solution to country’s plight

Despite hailing the motivation and level of patriotism of the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, Barrister Akere Muna, nonetheless, said it was wrong to believe that the nonagenarian can still guide the ship of state to safer shores.

“I think, we in this country, should be honest with ourselves. It is preposterous to claim that somebody who is 92 years old can manage the complexity of the country with problems in the North West and South West Regions, with problems of kidnapping in the Adamawa Region, with problems in the East with the incursions from the Central African Republic, with the Boko Haram in the North, and the economic problems we are having, the growing unemployment of the youths,” Akere said.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3169 of Monday July 15, 2024