By Synthia Lateu
The State of Cameroon lost just over 4 billion FCFA to corruption in 2024, according to the latest Anti-Corruption Status Report by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (Conac). The report, which reviews anti-graft activities carried out by Conac and other oversight bodies, reveals that despite the sharp drop in financial losses, the public service continued to register the highest rate of corruption.
Compared with 2023, when losses stood at 114 billion FCFA, the 2024 figure represents a 95.6% decrease, nearly 109 billion FCFA less, marking the lowest financial loss recorded in six years. According to Conac, this decline is linked to stronger disciplinary measures within the public administration. “The number of administrations that imposed sanctions rose from 24 in 2023 to 31 in 2024,” the report notes.
However, corruption reports surged in 2024, reaching 10,520 cases compared with 7,548 the previous year, a year-on-year increase of 39.37%.
By sector, most corruption complaints in 2024 were linked to Land Affairs, which accounted for about 25% of all reports. Finance followed with 19%, while Public Service previously ranked higher in 2023, dropped behind it. The Education sector and Public Procurement completed the top five most reported sectors.
The most frequently denounced offenses included the embezzlement of compensation funds for local populations, misappropriation of retirement pensions, undue collection of salaries, corruption in administrative entrance exams, irregularities in public procurement, and the mismanagement of PTA funds.
Meanwhile, Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), released on February 11, 2025, painted an equally troubling picture. The watchdog described corruption in Cameroon as having become “a second nature in the habits of many Cameroonians.” The country scored 26/100, placing it 140th globally
Despite efforts to curb corruption, it remains deeply entrenched and continues to pose a major challenge to governance and development in Cameroon.
