SDF Criticizes Illegal Fees and Wasteful Spending in Cameroon’s South Region

YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon, Jan. 16, 2025 — The South Regional Executive Committee of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) has denounced the imposition of fees on users for public services that are legally meant to be free.

In a letter addressed to Felix Nguele Nguele, the Governor of the South Region, the opposition party highlighted alleged practices in administrative units aimed at exploiting citizens while administrators maintain an extravagant lifestyle.

Illegal Fees for Public Services

The SDF detailed complaints that citizens in many of the 29 subdivisions in the South Region are being forced to pay between 5,000 and 7,000 CFA francs for administrative tasks such as document preparation. Users who fail to pay risk having their files rejected.

Additionally, citizens are required to bear the cost of transmitting their files from administrative offices to law enforcement agencies. The party noted the lack of basic office equipment in subdivision secretariats, including typewriters, computers, printers, and photocopiers. Frequent power outages exacerbate the problem, as most offices do not have backup generators.

Extravagance Amid Basic Deficiencies

The SDF criticized the stark contrast between the administrators’ luxurious lifestyles and the lack of resources for providing basic services. Each sub-prefect reportedly has access to a government-provided service vehicle worth approximately 50 million CFA francs, along with free housing and fuel vouchers.

According to the SDF, the government has spent 1.45 billion CFA francs on vehicles for the 29 sub-prefects in the South Region and 18 billion CFA francs nationally. In contrast, providing basic equipment like a desktop computer and printer for all 29 subdivisions would cost just 750 million CFA francs, while equipping all 360 subdivisions nationwide would require 90 million CFA francs.

Adding a generator to each subdivision would cost 1 million CFA francs per unit, totaling 29 million CFA francs for the South Region.

Cost-Saving Proposals

The SDF has proposed a more practical and cost-effective approach to address these issues. Instead of purchasing a single service vehicle for 50 million CFA francs, the party suggests that the government could use the same funds to acquire:

• 29 desktop computers with printers,
• 29 backup generators,
• 29 liaison motorcycles, estimated at 13.05 million CFA francs.

The total cost would be approximately 49.3 million CFA francs, slightly less than the cost of one service vehicle. These tools, according to the SDF, would significantly improve public service delivery at a fraction of the cost.

Call for Reforms

The SDF’s letter highlights the broader need for reforms to address inefficiencies in public administration and to ensure equitable service delivery for citizens. The party argues that redirecting resources to essential infrastructure would not only enhance public services but also alleviate the financial burden on citizens who are often forced to pay illegal fees.

As the debate over resource allocation continues, the SDF’s recommendations underscore a growing demand for transparency and accountability in Cameroon’s public administration. The challenge now lies in whether the government will act to implement these cost-saving measures and address the concerns raised by citizens and opposition parties alike.