Cameroon: The Stakes and Challenges of Governance and Development

11. Conclusion: The Problematic of Governance and Development in Cameroon

Chapter Eleven Conclusion: The Problematic of Governance and Development in Cameroon Tangie Nsoh Fonchingong & John Bobuin Gemandze The contributors to this volume offer a wide-ranging, multidisciplinary and an in-depth exploration of governance policy in Cameroon. It is not practicable to review all the critical issues they have raised here. However, it would be appropriate to conclude this study by concentrating on the nexus between governance and development, for no other reason than the fact that it was the central problematic of the Departmental seminar that led to this publication. It is interesting to note at the outset that the different authors adopt different perspectives on the concept of governance. This is not surprising, given the variety of their disciplinary backgrounds, as well as the different sectors and/or issues in which they engage. For instance, higher education (Abangma and Titanji); the economy (Fondo Sikod, Teke and Ntangsi); the media (Mokake); indigenous governance (Nkwi) and land conflict (Kah). What is surprising however is that the authors are all unanimous in one point or issue – the correlation between governance and development. That is, that there is an inherent relationship between governance and development The greater the degree of good governance, other things being equal, the higher the level of development. In Cameroon, the prospects for governance contributing to development (social, economic and political) are rather bleak given the absence of good governance as evidenced by, inter alia, overcentralization , high incidence of corruption, lack of accountability and of freedom of expression. This leads them to an unambiguous and uncompromising stance with their diagnosis. For instance, Fonchingong (chapter 2) and Ntangsi (chapter 7) identify corruption as a major obstacle to good governance and development because it reduces revenue, increases transaction costs, engenders misplaced priorities, impedes foreign investment, breeds and nurtures inefficiency, injustice, the lack of 212 Cameroon: The Stakes and Challenges of Governance and Development accountability and of transparency in public management. Fondo Sikod and Teke (chapter 6) also single out low rating on democracy, that is, the lack of good governance as an obstacle to development. As regards governance in higher education, Abangma (chapter 4) refers to the crisis of ‘governance’ manifested in students’ strikes and arising from an over-centralised system which is unresponsive to the needs of students in the learning and teaching processes. As a result students are disenchanted with the system. Titanji (chapter 6) identifies the lack of appropriate skills by academics appointed to managerial positions in public universities as well as the lack of an appropriate capacity building policy/programme as impediments to good governance. Gemandze (chapter 1), underscores the absence of an appropriate development agenda/strategy. As regards media governance, Mokake (chapter 8) refers to the inability of the media, resulting from the lack of an enabling environment, to assert itself as a credible and useful organ of civil society. Endemic farmer-grazer conflicts in Wum (in the North West Region of Cameroon), have sometimes been presented simply from a gender perspective (i.e. men dominating and oppressing women). Kah (chapter 9) contributes to a much more holistic approach. For Kah, the underlying cause is ‘corruption’, which gave rise to and is nurturing the ‘unholy alliance’ entered into by local administrative officials; traditional leaders; and cattle breeders against the farmers. In response, the farmersmainly women- agitate in the form of strikes and street demonstrations both of which hinder governance and development. Nkwi (chapter 10) points to the inability or unwillingness of political elites to use a work of art, the Afo-A-Kom, for the enhancement of (good) governance and nationhood. Finally, it is also interesting to note that in spite of the controversy surrounding the ideological underpinnings and renewal of interest in the use and/or deployment of the concept of governance today, none of the authors either questions or raises any serious reservations about its use or relevance in the Cameroonian context. This point is important because it underscores the fact that governance like democracy is a universal value (Sen, 1998). This view is vindicated by Nkwi’s analysis of the political use of the Afo-A-Kom to facilitate indigenous governance process in Kom (chapter 10). 213 Fonchingong & Gemandze: Conclusion The contributors to this volume have not been content with identifying the obstacles to governance and development in Cameroon. Without gainsaying the fact that ‘the best model of development is the one that any society forges for itself on the anvil...