Opinions of Sunday, 3 July 2016

Auteur: Prince Nfor Hanson

A country living on life support

Almost all mechanisms put in place by the 34 year old New Deal government is failing to yield fruits and situation in the country is getting from bad to worse.

No sector seems to be moving, except corruption and embezzlement which has been first on chart on several occasions.

The national Anti corruption commission has just revealed in its 2014 report of state of affairs in Cameroon that over FCFA 16 billion, money meant for compensating victims of the 1998 NSAM disaster and the Memvele Hydro electric project was embezzled.

Those who spearheaded the operation are said to have issued fake payments that went into their bank accounts.

In fact going by the report of the led MASSI GAMS commission, corruption in Cameroon has continued to show its ugly head, despite the multiplicity of structures such as Audit Bench of Supreme Court, National Financial Observatory and Supreme State Audit, to fight against the vice.

The fight against corruption seems to be window dressing. Much resources has been spent to fight against the vice, with several trips ,seminars by CONAC officials but money recovered from embezzlers lives much to be desired.

Today, Rev. Dr Dieudonne MASSI GAMS says these bodies have recovered almost FCFA 100billion. CONAC counts 10 years existence but more methods of embezzlement, corruption has surfaced; the state’s economy is dwindling.


A major setback of CONAC is that fact that it is the presidency which decides who to imprison after indictment , giving rooms for critics to argue that it was a mechanism created by president Paul Biya to put his political rivals or enemies to prison.

Cameroon a country with plenty resources is practically on its knees as these resources have been hijacked by a few.

A majority live in abject poverty while a minority lavish in riches. The economic situation of Cameroon is appalling with prices of basic commodities skyrocketing on markets.

A glass of ‘Garri’, locally produced food from Cassava now sells at FCFA 100, few years’ back it used to be three glasses for same amount. Price of Rice, Sugar and other basic needs have continued to go up the ladder.

The new deal government which inherited a strong economy with over 6% GDP, high life expectancy has failed in its mission to better the living conditions of Cameroonians. There is high unemployment and under employment with youths making a majority.

The Water and Energy sector has been a fiasco, with epileptic power supply. Despite change of names from SONEL to AES SONEL and now ENEO, things have not changed.

Cities like Douala and Yaoundé suffer from constant water shortage despite numerous outings by Basil ATANGANA KOUNA. The country’s airline company Camair Co is flying in turbulent skies.

Flights have been grounded on several occasions with the recent been an outing by the General Manager of Civil aviation Authority stating that Camair Co has been banned from flying to Europe.

The airline company is now a shadow of its former self. The road network of Cameroon speaks volume of an abandoned state.

The poor states of the roads have led to several road accidents especially along national road number 5, Douala-Nkongsamba-Bafoussam and equally Douala-Yaounde highway .

Recently the Governor of zlittoral Region, Samuel Dieudonne IVAHA DIBOUA disclosed that about 176 accidents have been recorded along the national road number 5 and a total of 91 deaths.

The Bafousaam - Bamenda highway has remained for ages without rehabilitation despite ordeal travelers go through. The health sector recently came under spy glass with several scandals that rocked hospitals.

Health care scheme of the New deal Government is a total failure as compared to the realities on the ground.

The country is in dire strait situation and the president has abandoned his rigor, integrity and moralization campaign when he came to power.

The country has been reduced to tribal conflict of who rules between the BETI and the Northerners.

The BETI hegemony in the country has helped them to divide resources, thus dividing Cameroon like booty being shared among criminals. The country is on its knees and needs a political messiah to save Cameroonians from the wilderness.

Cameroon may seem moving on good foot but maybe on a dormant volcano, it will take the idea of 2008 to stimulate the volcano to action and time is fast running.