By Yemti Harry Ndienla
Cameroon is arguably on of the most corrupt nations in the world and has been ranked the most corrupt, twice by Transparency International (TI). Unfortunately, most of those toping the list of corrupt individuals are government officials including; Ministers, Directors and Board-Chairs of state corporations, Senior state officials among others who have been banking the money abroad especially in Europe and America. The act of corruption and embezzlement of state funds is almost being institutionalized within president Biya's closed to thee decades rule, reason why many believe he is the promoter.
Apparently disturbed by growing criticism and pressure both from at home abroad, Biya launched his campaign against corruption dubbed “Operation Sparrow hawk I and II”. Within these period, a number of people have been arrested and jailed for alleged corruption and embezzlement of state funds. Surprisingly, very little had been recovered from the said officials leaving doubts as to the effectiveness of the operation. In a bid to retrieve more, government is said to be seeking assistance from the FBI to investigate assets of Cameroonians abroad and especially in the US
It is within this backdrop that Jeune Afrique Economie has published a preliminary list of 59 Yaounde regime officials suspected of holding ill-gotten monies and properties both at home and abroad (especially in the US and Europe). The list comprises those already in prison, those awaiting court trial and even those still serving, raising doubts whether Biya can summon the courage to punish them all. Analysts believed the article which carries no new information is intended to boost Biya’s image as an anti-corruption fighter
However, the Herald Newspaper reported that the front page article of the pro-government quarterly Jeune Afrique Economie (JAE) has shocked the Yaounde authorities.
“The article carries not only the names of those who have already been sentenced to long prison terms, but also those who are in prison detention awaiting trial. And even more so, the article carries the names of many not yet arrested but who would have vowed to be loyal and clean”, the paper added.
JAE says that the letter which carries the mention “secret, secret, secret” is written in not so accurate English because the president who wrote it himself, did not want it to enter a second hand.
The Magazine, owned by Cameroonian born, Blaise Pascal Talla leaves his reader believing therefore that he must have got it directly from President Paul Biya himself.
Cameroon, states the article, officially requests the assistance of the United States FBI to help it with financial investigations abroad which the government is undertaking against its suspects.
But many believe the FBI,noted for effective investigation will not limit its mission abroad owing to the fact that most of the suspects own questionable properties at home.
The list contains names of senior officials who have already undergone the judicial process and are in prison like Emmanuel Ondo Ndong, former GM of FEICOM, Alphonse Siyam Siewe, former minister of Water and Energy and Pierre Desire Engo, former GM of the National Social Insurance Fund. And also contains names of persons who are believed to belong to networks intended to plunder public finances.
The FBI is requested to find out if they have bank accounts or properties in the US, especially, where most of them were said to be investing.
The alleged list includes Paul Gabriel Hameni Ngamo, the recently dismissed administrator of Cameron Airlines; Lamare Ngankouo, inspector of Treasury and former GM of the National Sinking Fund and Peter Akumchi Awa, former GM of the Treasury
But, what appears surprising about the list is that it also includes names of persons who would be considered to be the regime’s faithful darlings, people considered to be above all suspicions
These persons are alleged to include Edouard Akame Mfoumou, former Finance minister, Esther Dang Belibi, former GM SNI, Gervais Mendo Ze, former CRTV GM and more.
The list includes Louis-Paul Motaze, Economy minister, Jean-Marie Atangana Mebara, former secretary general at the presidency, Iya Mohammed, GM of SODECOTON and FECAFOOT president .
The JAE report revealed further that the government’s letter to the FBI was sent months ago, raising fears that the president dug-up some old information that was already known to the public, to strengthen his image as a true fighter of corruption.
During the tenure of Niels Marquardt, the US ambassador who left Cameroon a year ago, the issue of the recovery of illicit funds held abroad came up in the press and it was understood that the US government was helping Cameroon in the matter.
The French ambassador to Cameroon before Georges Serre, the present one, also offered the French government support to Cameroon over the issue of holdings abroad by corrupt officials in Cameroon.
Marquardt's successor, Janet E. Garvey, is also bitter about corruption in Cameroon. “It is USA government policy and the embassy to fight corruption that eats away the foundation of a society: makes that society less stable, less prosperous… It ought to be stopped”. She told journalists during a visit to the Northwest province of the country.
Like her predecessor, ambassador Janet E. Garvey, emphasized, “We’ve told the government of Cameroon that there are policies we’re going to speak out, about corruption. We will like to see everyone who is corrupt to be arrested.”
In effect, commentators doubted that the JAE story broke new ground.
The names cited in the different categories have repeatedly occurred in the press in Cameroon.
Since it is allege that JAE is editorially in favour of the Biya regime, commentators read the report with skepticism believing that old material had been dusted up and re-packaged to give the impression that President Biya is leaving no stone unturned in the anti-corruption campaign, whereas his critics believe that it is not doing well enough.
Is the president using it for his political motives rather than to fight crime in Cameroon?
The following list was published by Jeune Afrique Economie (JAE) in English. Except in a few cases where clarity obliged, the names and titles are exactly as published in JAE
Polycarpe Abah Abah – Ex-minister of Economy and Finance
Paul Gabriel Ngama Hamani – Tax Inspector (Finance), presently administrator for CAMAIR
Lamare Daniel Njankouo – Ex-general manager of the «Internal Amortisation Debt Office» ex-delegated minister of Planning (Ministry of Finance)
Peter Akumchi Awa – ex-general manager of the Treasury (Ministry of Finance)
Caroline Doris Meva’a, Abah Abah’s wife – Executive position within Ministry of Finance
Lucien Mevea’a – private secretary to the Minister of Finance (Ministry of Finance)
Justin Njomatchoua – General secretary of the Ministry of Finance
Charles Tawamba – Customs Inspector (Ministry of Finance), presently general manager of CAMPOST
Célestin Pascal Kamanou Tawamba – General manager of Pasta company (belonging to the Minister of Finance)
Titi Pierre – General manager of the Budget (Ministry of Finance)
Djamila Babale – Financial adviser to the minister of Finance (Ministry of Finance)
Blaise Eugène Nsom – General manager of the Treasury (Ministry of Finance)
Anatole Nkodo Ze – Manager of Commission of Privatisation (Ministry of Finance)
Alfred Bagueka Assobo – Manager of Commission of Control of State Company (Ministry of Finance)
Samuel Amenguele Akin – Senior tax inspector (Ministry of Finance)
Nken Kome – Senior customs inspector (Ministry of Finance)
Rose Yougkeh Tamfuh, wife of Tanyi Mbianyor (British citizen) – Senior tax advisor to the Minister of Finance
Clarkson Oben Tanyi Mbianyor – Ex-minister of Forestry, senior tax inspector
Antoine Manga Massina – General manager of Customs (Ministry of Finance)
Rebeca Ndedi – Senior tax inspector (Ministry of Finance)
Laurent Nkodo – Senior tax inspector, presently general manager of Taxes (Ministry of Finance)
Mongue Nyamsi – Financial controller for the Ministry of Finance
Paul Tasong Njukang – Senior tax inspector (Ministry of Finance)
Dieudonné Evou Mekou – General manager of the Internal Amortisation Debt Office (Ministry of Finance)
Akame Mfoumou – Ex-minister of Economy and Finance
Emmanuel Mbian – Lawyer (Former lawyer of Ministry of Finance)
Esther Dang Bayibidio, wife Belibi – Ex-manager of the National Investment Company (SNI) presently member of management of Ministry of Finance
Alphonse Siyam Siwe – Ex-general manager of the Port of Douala and Ex-minister of Energy and Water
Emmanuel Ondo Ndong – Ex-general manager of FEICOM (Communal Bank)
Gervais Mendo Ze – Ex-general manager of the CRTV, Former delegate Ministry of Communications
Patricia Daisy Enam, wife Melone – Ex-financial duty manager of Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV)
Elisabeth Mongori – Ex-divisional manager of communication for the Cameroon Radio and Television (CRTV)
Pierre Desire Engo – Ex-general manager of the Social Security Funding (CNPS)
Edouard Nathanael Etonde Ekotto – Ex-delegated governor to the city of Douala, ex-PCA to the port of Douala and the SIC Cameroon (State proceeds against him)
Jean Marie Atangana Mebara – Ex-ministry general secretary to the President of the Republic of Cameroon, former minister of Foreign Affairs
Yves Michel Fotso – Ex-general manager of CAMAIR and presently administrator of the Commercial Bank of Cameroon (CBC)
Marafa Hamidou Yaya – Ex-ministry general secretary to the President of the Republic of Cameroon, presently minister of Territorial Administration
Zacheus Mungwe Forjindam – General manager of the Shipyard in Douala
Marcel Niat Njifendi – Ex-manager of national electric company and ex vice prime minister
Paul Kammogne Fokam – Chairman of Afriland First Bank
Charles Metouck – General manager of SONARA (National Refining Company)
Martin Aristide Leopold Okouda – Ex-minister of Public Works
Michel Thierry Atangana Abega (is incarcerated) – Ex-team head of management of Ministry of Finance
Urbain Olanguena Awono – Former Minister of Health
Iya Mohamed – General Manager of SODECOTON and president of National Football Team
Joseph Edou – Ex-General manager of the Credit Foncier of Cameroon
Gilles Roger Belinga (is incarcerated) – Ex-general manager of the National Housing Company of Cameroon (SIC)
Louis Paul Motaze – General manager of the Social Security Funding (CNPS)
Roger Melingui – Ex-delegated minister of the Budget and ex-general manager of the National Office for Commercialisation of Base Products
Seydou Mounchipou – Ex-Minister of Telecommunications and Post
Perrial Jean Nyodog – General manager of Tradex (National Oil Company)
Maurice Kouoh Eyoum – Adviser of Ministry General Secretary of the President of Republic of Cameroon
Benoît Tayou – Inspector of the Treasury (Ministry of Finance)
Pierre Edimo – Senior tax inspector (Ministry of Finance)
Ahmadou Oumarou – Law Adviser of Commission of Privatisation (Ministry of Finance)
Louis Marie Abogo Nkono – Former minister of State Property and Land Tenure
Jean Baptiste Nguini Effa – General manager SCDP
Roger Tchoufa – Managing director of Atlantic Group and Group Five Ltd
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