In 2024 report: CONAC reveals drastic drop in money lost to corruption.

This was during a ceremony to present the 2024 Anti-Corruption Status Report. CONAC Chairman, Rev Dr Dieudonne Massi Gams, presided the event. This was in the presence of some members of government. 

Also present at the event were members of the diplomatic corps, Directors General of public establishments, Presidents of Regional Councils, City Mayors, religious authorities and members of the Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, representatives of political parties amongst others.

According to CONAC boss, thanks to the successful implementation of several strategies, CONAC received a total of 10,250 denunciations in 2024, compared to 7,548 in 2023. This, he said, represents an increase of 2,972 denunciations in absolute terms and 39.37% in relative terms. 

Massi Gams indicated that the denunciations, especially those received on CONAC's toll-free number, were mostly on illegal practices like charges for services that are supposed to be free or charges beyond what is prescribed by regulations.

He said others touched on abuse of power, resulting in the unjustified retention of files, undue delays in their treatment or whimsical controls; influence peddling, leading to unfair decisions that cause frustration, tension; and misappropriation of public property. 

He said these practices are most commonly reported in councils, Sub-Divisional Offices, police stations, gendarmerie brigades, road checkpoints, schools, health facilities, and control brigades of the Ministry of Trade.  

Rev Dr Massi Gams disclosed that the financial loss suffered by the State of Cameroon at the end of investigations by CONAC, the decisions by the Budget and Finance Disciplinary Board, CDBF, and rulings of the Special Criminal Court is estimated at 4,061,806,711 FCFA.

In 2023, the amount stood at over 114 billion FCFA. This, Massi Gams stated, represents a decrease of over 109 billion FCFA.

Rev Dr Massi Gams went further to reveal that the total amount recovered by the Special Criminal Court and the Cameroon Debt Recovery Company in 2024 is over 8 billion FCFA.  

Strikes MINAT, others for refusal to cooperate  

The CONAC boss deplored the fact that some ministries did not respond to letters requesting contributions. These ministries, he pointed out, include; the Ministry of Territorial Administration, MINAT; the Ministry of Communication, MINCOM; the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy; the Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development, MINEPDED; and the Ministry of Transport.

Rev Dr Massi Gams said these “refusal to cooperate is a cause for particular concern”.

According to Massi Gams, religious authorities, notably the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, NECC; the Council of Protestant Churches of Cameroon and the Islamic High Council of Cameroon, also refused to cooperate.

These institutions, he however stressed, are nonetheless considered pillars of integrity in the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, given their importance in the moral restoration of society, plagued by all sorts of abuses.  

CONAC also said it did not receive the activity report of the National Financial Investigation Agency, ANIF, on anti-money laundering unlike in previous years.

The anti-corruption body also decried the fact that Regional and Local Authorities, the Civil Society and private sector are not sufficiently represented in the report made public yesterday.

CONAC on Glencore Affair

Quizzed on the progress made in the Glencore Affair, and when the culprits would be brought to book, the CONAC Chairman said the institution is “working” on the case and “investigations are well on course”.

“The Glencore Affair is a big problem. We do not want to rush into anything. We are working. Investigations are underway and the time will come when the national community can be informed. Take it easy, do not rush. We are working,” Rev Dr Massi Gams said.

He also revealed that measures have been taken to protect whistleblowers. He said they should not be scared to denounce for the right reasons and not to cause more harm.

“Contact CONAC, we will protect you and those you have reported will be investigated,” Rev Dr Massi Gams said.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3547 of Thursday August 28, 2025