"Ongoing efforts to fight corruption is all window-dressing but also a good beginning", Mgr George Nkuo

 

Interviewed by Emmanuel F. Sanosi

  

My Lord, what do you think about government's efforts so far to fight against corruption in Cameroon?
I wish to commend the government for realising that there is something wrong in the country. Although government's attempts are more of a window-dressing, I believe the government can do a lot more.  People who have embezzled public funds should be brought to book. They should not only be simply arrested and detained, but measures should be taken to ensure that stolen funds are returned to State coffers. These funds are meant to improve on the welfare of cameroonians, but carting them away creates an economic vacuum which creates a vicious circle as individuals become more corrupt since they cannot make ends meet from honestly earned revenues.

What do you think the Church could do to make the anti-corruption drive more efficient?
The Church is actually doing a lot in this domain. There is the Fight Against Corruption Through Schools, FACTS Project, which the Church initiated in all her schools and which I am glad to say the government has just endorsed in the programme of public schools. Also, in our everyday encounters with the People of God we call on them to have respect for the common good and to live the Gospel according to the Church's Social Teachings which boils down to realising and accepting that everyone has a right to the so-called national cake.