IS DECLARING OF ASSETS A TABOO IN CORRUPTION-RIDDEN CAMEROON
A new bill tabled at Cameroon’s National Assembly aims to force government officials to declare their assets, a requirement that has not been respected despite being provided by Article 66 of the Constitution.
The Social Democratic Front (SDF) submitted a bill on June 16, seeking to finally implement Article 66 of the Constitution, which has remained dormant for nearly three decades.
The proposal, tabled by SDF National Chairman Hon. Joshua Osih and the party’s parliamentary group, establishes a modern system for declaring assets, monitoring the wealth of public officials, and preventing illicit enrichment.
Article 66 of the Cameroonian Constitution requires public officials to declare their assets upon taking office and upon leaving office. However, the provision has never been effectively implemented for over 30 years now, despite repeated calls from civil society and opposition parties for greater transparency in public administration.
The SDF says that the draft law aims to “restore public confidence in State institutions” in a country where corruption is endemic, and government officials usually accumulate enormous material and financial wealth before leaving office.
“It establishes a modern system of asset declaration, monitoring of the assets of public officials and the prevention of illicit enrichment, while guaranteeing due process and protecting public officials against arbitrary accusations and abuse,” the SDF added.
The asset declaration bill is among five bills submitted by the SDF, which also address child protection, violence against women, citizenship and discrimination, and historical justice for slavery and colonization.
IS DECLARING OF ASSETS A TABOO IN CORRUPTION-RIDDEN CAMEROON
