News releases -
GCI uncovers massive corruption and extortion in Kumba Council and transport service
Global Conscience Initiative has uncovered disturbing indicators of extortion and corruption in the Meme Divisional Delegation of Transport and the Kumba Council. Given that corruption undermines the realization of almost all basic human rights, GCI pays particular attention to the monitoring of corruption in and around Kumba.
GCI has discovered that funds are extorted from vehicle owners through the impoundment of vehicles. Vehicles without the correct documentation are impounded until the documentation is produced. GCI recognizes that this is a legitimate method of enforcing road safety. But vehicle owners complain to GCI that officials at both the Council and Meme Divisional Delegation of Transport demand and collect money when they have no authority to do so, without offering receipts, or have demanded sums higher than those detailed on receipts.
Several vehicle owners complained that they paid 5,000 FCFA for a roadworthiness certificate, but received a receipt detailing only 1,000 francs. The Divisional Delegate for Transport, Mr. Muma Johnet, formally confirmed that the penalty fee for taxis that are caught on the road with outdated documents is 5,000 FCFA, but denied that officials were issuing receipts for 1,000 CFA for payments of 5,000.
Further, in order to obtain a road-worthy certificate, vehicle owners should travel to Ombe, where the facilities for the necessary test are located. However, vehicle owners explained that they were able to pay a bribe (usually of about 5,000 FCFA) and the office in Kumba would issue it to them instead. Mr Muma Johnet admitted that road-worthy certificates are meant to be obtained in Ombe, but that people will often offer the divisional delegation money in order for them to obtain the documentation in Kumba. When asked whether they accepted this money, the delegate admitted that they accept payments from between 1,000 FCFA to 10,000 FCFA. He confirmed that no receipts are issued for this payment. When asked where this money goes, the Delegate said that GCI was pushing him too far and that he has the right to reserve that information.
Vehicle owners also informed GCI that after regularizing their documents, they are requested to pay another sum of 5,000 FCFA to the Transport Delegation for a “release order” that ordered the Secretary General of the Kumba Council to release the impounded car. The Transport Delegation issues no receipts for the fees collected. This money remains unaccounted for and there are no records of the sums collected so far.
Owners are then required to pay an additional impoundment fee of 10,000 – 25,000 FCFA in order to retrieve their vehicles. The Secretary General, Mr. Makoge Ivo at the Kumba Council told GCI that he or the council are able to change this price and sometimes the Secretary General waives it altogether, particularly for people of status. He admitted that no receipt is issued for the impoundment fee.
GCI fears that money collected by the Division of Transport or Kumba Council without issuing receipts, or money exceeding the amount detailed on receipts, is not accounted for in the State Treasury and demonstrates a lack of transparency on the part of those who work at the Transportation Department or the Council.
GCI recommends a thorough investigation into these allegations of corruption and has drawn the issue to the attention of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms, while a Yaoundé-based NGO, Anti-Corruption Cameroon, is considering bringing legal action against those who perpetuate extortion and corrupt practices in the Kumba transport sector. The NGO's lawyers and bailiffs will be in Kumba in the weeks ahead to investigate the issue. GCI therefore calls on victims of the corrupt practices to visit our office situated in the storey building across from the High Court along Krammer Avenue , Kumba with receipts or other documents to substantiate their allegations.
Above all, the system currently in place for impoundment of vehicles is essentially exploitative and has the greatest affect on the poorest of Kumba's citizens. GCI CEO, Samba Churchill has said the time has come for the downtrodden to stand up as one man and ascertain their human rights. "No efforts even from the international community can bring human rights to a docile and timid people".
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