More organisations have announced their decision to join the Business Coalition Against Corruption.

Corruption exists everywhere in the world. Minimising its impact demands concerted efforts, the British High Commissioner to Cameroon acknowledged at a public function in Yaounde on Wednesday, December 10, 2014.

His Excellency Brian Olley, who was speaking at an activity review workshop by the Business Coalition Against Corruption, BCAC, said fighting corruption comes down to ensuring that one does not stand to benefit personally from any doubtful transaction.

Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV, Camtel and State Audit, CONSUPE, announced their decision to join the bandwagon of fighting corruption through personal ethical conduct among all categories of staff. The grouping of Cameroon’s industrialists and employers, GICAM, also promised to lobby with its 400 member organisations to join BCAC.

A BCAC member, Baker Magunda, explained that the private sector-led initiative was to support government’s efforts in seeing Cameroon become an emergent economy by 2035. He insisted that success in the war against graft lay in private-public sector partnership.

On his part, the Business Council of Africa, BCA, Chair, Raph Manyi, admitted that saying ‘no’ to corruption was not easy, but by coming together, many businesses can resist it better. He pointed out that the main benefits of taming graft included more dividends for shareholders and a better business environment.

According to Richard Howe, BCA Honorary Chair, sharing best practices through volunteer coaches and taking personal commitments were better ways of fighting corruption than relying on piles of rules and legislation.

At a press conference after the workshop, founding BCAC members said some of their greatest challenges were inconsistent membership as a result of the organisation’s strict ethical standards and procedures in monitoring compliance.

Founded in February 2011 as part of the Business Council of Africa, BCAC is a joint initiative with the German Technical Cooperation, GiZ. It has an active membership of 50 organisations, has trained 200 managers, regularly shares best management practices with members as well as organises follow-up sessions with them.