For alleged corruption: British High Commission transfares Visa services from Yaounde to Ghana.

Anglophone Cameroonians welcome the move in believe that it will work to their benefit.

By Yemti Harry Ndienla

With effect from 28 July 2008, the British High Commission in Yaounde is transferring its visa processes to the British High Commission in Accra, Ghana. "From 28 July, all visa applications must be made on-line.At the same time, applicants should make an appointment to submit their application in person at the Visa Section of the High Commission in Yaounde. After obtaining an online appointment, applicants will need to print off a copy of the completed Visa Application Form (VAF) and take it to the High Commission in Yaounde along with a passport sized photograph, the relevant visa fee and any other supporting documents".
While advising applicants to check on the High Commission's website on a regular basis for news updates on this change those applying to settle in the UK,were told to allow between 5-45 working days from the date of submission of their visa application before collecting their visa decision.
The communique made it clear that the UK Border Agency (UKBA) is responsible for the safety and for transporting the applications which is expected to be sent to the British High Commission in Accra by secure courier. "UK Border Agency Clearance Officers in Ghana will make decisions on visa applications. No decisions will be made in Yaounde. Once the decision has been taken applications and documentation will then be sent by secure courier back to the British High Commission in Yaounde for collection".
Though a communique signed by Gillian Edwards, Deputy High Commissioner states that the decision is part of a worldwide move to centralise visa processing through a network of hubs and that the change will not alter the cost of a UK visa, many Cameroonians and especially those of English expression who feel marginalize strongly believe the move is to fight against corruption by some personnel of the high commission.
In the past years, there have been many allegations of corruption by francophone Cameroonians employed by the British High Commission in Yaounde. The allegations involved the granting of visas mostly to francophones( both genuine and fraudulent applicants).
In effect, many anglophones always cried out whenever they applied for visas at the High Commission because of the way they were treated(harshly) by the francophone workers who always checked applicants' documents, and believed to have had a very big say as to who got a visa. "Some of us - genuine anglophone applicants were made to look as criminals",said an Anglopnone, adding,"one of the workers stepped on many toes in 2004 when I invited one of my senior brothers to visit me in Britain".
That when the brother went for interview, one of the many francophnoe workers asked the brother why many anglophones were applying for visas to Britain. But when the brother turned down the question and told the lady that his being anglophone had nothing to do with his visa application, the angry lady told the the brother he wouldn't get the Visa,and it came out to be true.
On this score,he said he personally meet the chief immigration officer in Cardiff, Britain, and filed petitions to the British High Commissioner in Yaounde,and the British Home Office in London on the allegations from Cameroonians who visit Britain about corruption at the British High Commission to Cameroon by some Cameroonian employees(francophones)for his brothers case to be re-examine. Hear him
"When I met the Officer, I told him point blank that the British High Commission in Cameroon is discriminating against anglophones and favoring francophones because some corrupt francophone employees at the High Commission are occupying top positions. The officer told me straight away that a year before, investigations were carried out at that same High Commission on allegations of visa corruption. A day after, he phoned me that I should contact my brother in Cameroon and tell him to go to Yaounde and get his visa that was waiting for him. He then told me that many Cameroonians in Britain had written many letters to the Home Office informing them of alleged corruption, and complaining on behalf of their friends and relatives".
Though the high commission might not admit to this,many are those who believe the reason for the transfare is to combat corruption. They had kept an eye on the Yaounde Office for quite a long time. Whatever the case People don't need to travel to Ghana for their visas. Genuine applicants will have a better chance of getting a visa than before. And Anglophones Cameroonians believe this will work to the benefit because the person in Ghana who will make the decision to grant a Cameroonian a visa would base it on merit and not on whether the person is Anglophone or francophone.