Cameroon´s 2023 extractive industries report gets full compliance.

Karim Lourimi, Independent Administrator of Carbinet ENERTEAM, also members of Cameroon EITI Committee, said government has been able to reach the required benchmarks set out by the international EITI body. This, he said, has made it possible for EITI to accept the report.

According to the experts, key issues that were successfully tackled, opening the road for acceptance of the report. These, they said included; more involvement of different stakeholders in the running of the permanent secretariat; creating a more healthy, constructive, transparent and convivial work environment in respect of a decree signed on 31 January 2024, organising the EITI Committee.

Cameroon was also credited for completing what the assessors described as the long-awaited process of the contractualization of all the personnel of the permanent secretariat. They also lauded the recruitment of new staff to close the vacancies that had long remained unfilled.

The Committee was also praised for making progress in fulfilling all the other requirements, which experts said, were formulated during the pre-validation period. This, they said, was in compliance with the 2023 EITI requirements and standards.

The assessors also highlighted the Committee´s effort in taking ample measures that facilitated the production of Cameroon´s Annual Reports within the year not awaiting deadlines, like in the past where delays caused tension between Cameroon and the international EITI office. 

By achieving this feat, the assessors said Cameroon has met a recommendation which EITI international holds in high esteem.

They also lauded the contribution of the Interim Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Prof Fuh Calistus, who doubles as Vice President of the Committee.

They saluted his continuous engagement and interactions in the Committee. This, they said, helped to smoothen the work of the permanent secretariat. 

Gov’t’s adjustments 

The Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, Yaouba Abdoulaye, who presented his boss who is the President of the Committee said government has integrated EITI standards into its information system.

Yaouba said through the system, anybody in need of information about extractive industries can easily access it.

The Minister Delegate specified that the study to integrate EITI into the State system was conducted by the renowned international firm Cabinet ENERTEAM. 

He talked of ongoing efforts to strengthen stakeholder engagement and transparency in the traceability of revenues from natural resources, particularly in the petroleum, gas, and mining sectors.

Participants at the workshop also proposed recommendations to strengthen the government´s capacity to enhance transparency, including improvements in the management and integration of data into all public systems. 

Workshop participants also discussed the adoption of appropriate technologies for collection, processing, and dissemination of information related to extractive industries.

Other participants at the gathering included; members of diplomatic corps, development partners, focal points from the Permanent Secretariat, the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, organisations involved in reconciliation, civil society and the media. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3653 of Friday December 12, 2025