Cameroon: Transparency and Courage

In a rare show of courage and openness, the Minister of Public Works, Bernard MESSENGUE Avom acting as master developer, has released the long awaited results of the tender for the construction of the border-Djoum Mintom- Congo should stretch of road linking Congo and Cameroon, in an agreement signed between the presidents of both countries to improve the free movement of persons between the two countries through the so-called “corridor Yaounde Brazaville.

This is the best example of the willingness of the countries of the Kingdom of the CEMAC, to repair all the good intentions that were proclaimed in the final communique issued at the end of the summits of many of our leaders have been presented and never really became actually, allegedly by the countries of the Central African region to facilitate the movement of people between countries.

This transfer is, of course, to celebrate. But the question is one second less formal integration into a purely national policy, showing some of the points that marked the struggle undertaken by the Head of State, Cameroon and monitor the overall approach to ensuring greater transparency and integrity in public administration and in particular in public procurement, which is well known corruption is particularly common.

The Minister, here, must be cited for his determination to instill transparency. As project owner, he had no obligation to publish the details of all those who tendered. But from his initiative, Cameroonians have had the opportunity to understand all the underpinnings of the tenders sector.

The Honourable Minister might not have deliberately wished it, but it is now known that some projects executed in our country can cost even less than half of what the tenders bid for. This puts a very serious responsibility on the doorsteps of citizens selected for choosing those responsible for the realisation of major projects in the country.

A critical appraisal of the proposals made by the different companies for the said road projects raises hair on the colossal amounts of money the Cameroonian taxpayer has lost in a number of these operations.

The freshest in most minds is the second bridge project over the Wouri in Douala for which astronomical sums have been made available whereas ordinary people think a much smaller amount could have done the job. Mr Messengué Avom’s initiative must be followed by other governmental agencies, especially those responsible for major projects.

The realisation of the President of the Republic’s “greater achievements” objectives will definitely run into trouble if adequate measures are not found to ensure that every franc removed from the State treasury is not used to the best benefit of the taxpayer.

In the Djoum-Congo border road project case, it was observed that the Cameroonian taxpayer could save as much as half the price as proposed by other bidders. The situation therefore calls for greater vigilance, but, above all, greater patriotism, in attributing such important contracts.

Our hope is that the initiative of the Minister to bring this action is not just pulling the wool over people’s faces, but must be a formula to be copied by all government agencies for every penny saved will be useful for our needs key development.