Global Integrity Rates Cameroon 'Very Weak' In Governance

By Azore Opio

An investigative study carried out by Global Integrity has rated Cameroon as 'very weak' on its Integrity Indicators Scorecard.

An international NGO that tracks global governance and corruption trends, Global Integrity, sampled 55 countries, covering most of the Group of 8 (G8) countries as well as dozens of the world's emerging markets and developing nations, from Argentina to China to Zambia.

Global Integrity released its findings in a report titled "The Global Integrity Report: 2007" last January after investigating and assessing government accountability mechanisms and transparency measures needed to prevent corruption and promote good governance.

According to the report, although elections are often touted as the keystone of governance reform efforts around the world, lack of government accountability and the absence of strong anti-corruption mechanisms often undermine long-term benefits offered by elections. 
"We have to stop using elections as a simplistic litmus test for a government's commitment to democracy," said Global Integrity Managing Director, Nathaniel Heller. "We now know there is little linkage between elections and the much tougher reforms that must be made…"

Herewith Cameroon's Scorecard
Overall Score: 54 - Very Weak

Category I Civil Society, Public Information and Media 65 Weak
I-1 Civil Society Organizations 82 Strong
I-2 Media 71 Moderate
I-3 Public Access to Information 41 Very Weak

Category II Elections 57 Very Weak
II-1 Voting & Citizen Participation 78 Moderate
II-2 Election Integrity 68 Weak
II-3 Political Financing 25 Very Weak

Category III Government Accountability 40 Very Weak
III-1 Executive Accountability 48 Very Weak
III-2 Legislative Accountability 25 Very Weak
III-3 Judicial Accountability 33 Very Weak
III-4 Budget Processes 54 Very Weak

Category IV Administration and Civil Service 48 Very Weak
IV-1 Civil Service Regulations 38 Very Weak
IV-2 Whistle-blowing Measures 17 Very Weak
IV-3 Procurement 71 Moderate
IV-4 Privatization 68 Weak

Category V Oversight and Regulation 47 Very Weak
V-1 National Ombudsman 0 Very Weak
V-2 Supreme Audit Institution 51 Very Weak
V-3 Taxes and Customs 79 Moderate
V-4 State-Owned Enterprises 82 Strong
V-5 Business Licensing and Regulation 21 Very Weak

Category VI Anti- Corruption and Rule of Law 66 Weak
VI-1 Anti-Corruption Law 100 Very Strong
VI-2 Anti-Corruption Agency 53 Very Weak
VI-3 Rule of Law 56 Very Weak
VI-4 Law Enforcement 56 Very Weak

Global Integrity found loopholes and weaknesses in the anti-corruption frameworks of the countries investigated. Among the major findings of the report are the following: "that the US and other G8 countries suffer from many of the same corruption challenges as developing countries,

especially in election and campaign financing; poor ratings for several close US allies highlighted the challenges the US faces in promoting democratic reforms in countries where it has competing security interests and a widespread lack of government accountability among foreign aid recipients presents serious dilemmas for Western and multilateral aid agencies."

The report also indicates that several countries exhibited significant improvements or backsliding in the fight against corruption from 2006 to 2007, with the biggest gainers being Bulgaria, Nepal and Azerbaijan; Nigeria and Georgia were the countries that experienced the greatest declines.

The Global Integrity report, according to the investigators, should be sobering for policy makers and investors alike.