The bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon have issued a strong condemnation of the pervasive corruption, embezzlement, and misappropriation within the country’s public sector. They have called on the authorities to ensure that those found guilty of stealing public funds reimburse the money to the public treasury. The bishops emphasized that these corrupt practices deprive citizens of essential social amenities and hinder the country’s progress towards development.
In their statement, which marked the end of their 48th annual seminar in Buea, the bishops highlighted the inability of millions of Cameroonians to enjoy their rights to food, a good environment, roads, quality health, and education due to bad governance and corruption. They noted that these issues have persisted despite repeated pledges by President Paul Biya, who has been in power for 42 years, to combat them.
The bishops also stressed the importance of protecting those charged with recovering embezzled funds from threats and intimidation. They welcomed the government’s willingness to sanction those responsible for misappropriating public funds and called for the money unjustly taken from Cameroonians to be reimbursed to the public treasury.
Furthermore, the bishops expressed their concern over the lack of commitment among government officials to eradicate corruption. They observed that corruption has become so ingrained in the country’s daily life that it seems almost impossible to eliminate. The diversion of public funds to private pockets has impoverished ordinary citizens, forcing many to seek better opportunities abroad.
The bishops’ statement is a significant call for accountability and justice in Cameroon. They urged the government to take concrete actions to address these issues and ensure that public funds are used for the benefit of all citizens.
Bishops Demand Reimbursement of Embezzled Funds to Cameroon
