Cameroon: The Stakes and Challenges of Governance and Development

Introduction

Introduction Tangie Nsoh Fonchingong The three chapters that make up the first section of this book focus on the extent to which the government of Cameroon is implementing an appropriate ‘good governance’ programme/policy for development. In chapter one “Governance and Development: A Review of the Debate in the Cameroonian Context,” Gemandze identifies a wrong development approach by the government as an obstacle to good governance in Cameroon. Gemandze points out that the development approach adopted by the government is that of the World Bank. This approach is not conducive to development firstly, because it is, like other traditional public management interventions, based on ‘fixes’ provided by technical assistance experts from rich countries without considering variations in national circumstances. Secondly, and most importantly, because the approach does not specify the type development project or agenda to be implemented. Gemandze maintains that the approach promoted by the World Bank within the framework of the Structural Adjustment Programme is not a suitable/sustainable development programme/agenda for Cameroon and that an appropriate strategy for Cameroon and Africa should focus on rural development. A second factor that hinders good governance and ipso facto development in Cameroon is what Fonchingong in chapter two refers to as ‘an unacceptably high incidence of corruption. Corruption obstructs good governance and development in a number of ways including engendering and nourishing inequity, inefficacy, the lack of accountability and transparency, reducing government revenue, increasing transaction costs, and impeding foreign investment. The ruinously high incidence of corruption in Cameroon which is evidenced by inter alia the classification of the country twice by Transparency International (TI) as the most corrupt in the World is attributed largely to the unwillingness of government to introduce appropriate measures to fight against corruption. 14 Cameroon: The Stakes and Challenges of Governance and Development In chapter three,” Governance and Poverty Alleviation in Cameroon: Challenges and Opportunities” Forje focuses on excessive centralisation as one of the impediments to good governance and development in Cameroon. Forje opines that overcentralisation is an obstacle to development because it deters popular participation and erodes accountability. Also, excessive centralisation does not enhance equitable distribution of public resources and this contributes to the appropriation of the commonwealth by a tiny minority of citizens. According to Forje, decentralisation is imperative for the institutionalization of good governance and development in Cameroon. In summary, the three chapters in this section focus on three different obstacle to governance and development in Cameroon – an, inappropriate development policy approach, corruption and over-centralisation. ...