Cameroon : Indicators

2009 > Transparency norms

Transparency norms

Do official mechanisms – policies, laws, regulations, decrees, procedures, international agreements, and public statements of commitment, etc. – exist that permit public access to information? So does the law provide a legal obligation on public institutions to be transparent?

There is a clear legal obligation to provide allow access to information to citizens. The 1996 Constitution refers to the African Charter of Human and Peoples’ Rights, stating that “Everyone has the right to information”. But there is no mechanism for ensuring effective implementation, by clarifying the obligations of government officials with this regards.

Is there a Freedom of Information Act?

There is no formal Freedom of Information Act, but there are more and more NGOs advocating for free access to information on specific issues (projects implemented by the Government, deliveries funded by the State budget, contract transparency in the extractive sector, etc.). There is however no coordination among those groups, while a joint campaign for a Freedom of Information Act would have provided a solution to all their requests. Read more...

What other rules provide for transparency?

There are very few laws providing for transparency. The most elaborated norms are the 1996 Framework Law Governing Environmental Management, and one of its implementation Decree of 2005 organizing Environmental Impact Assessment. They both provide for obligations to the project sponsors to inform neighbouring communities and the wide public on their projects’ impacts and mitigation measures. Read more...

Are there any forest sector specific laws / rules / statements that provide for transparency?

The Forest Policy provides that public participation is one of the pillars in forest management. Access to information therefore appears as a pre requisite for communities and the wide public. These rules provides for transparency in rights for commercial use granted to companies, to transparency in the control of activities, and in the benefit sharing. Read more...

Is there any settlement process for disputes regarding access to information?

No, apart a formal complaint to the court. The success of such a court will have to overcome the weaknesses of the law, which lack a clear description of formal obligations lying on the Government officials in terms of implementing the right to know.

Access to courts is in principle open to all citizens. In practice, costs are a major obstacle. Furthermore, the court dealing with administrative issues is located in the Capital city, and accessing it physically could be difficult to communities.