Press Release on the launch of the Cameroonian coalition

Launching of the “Publish What You Pay” Cameroonian Coalition

The Cameroonian civil society announces the launching of the “Publish What You Pay Coalition” on December 6, 2005. It thus joins an international campaign that groups more than 300 member organizations. The goal of the international campaign is to improve the management of revenues generated by extractive activities in order to fight against corruption and contribute to poverty eradication.

The goal of the Cameroonian coalition, which is made up of both religious and civic organizations, will watch over the implementation of the governmental action plan on the promotion of transparency in the extractive industry Sector.

Publish What You (PWYP) is an international campaign that aims to greater transparency in payments and management of revenues collected from the oil, gas and mining operations in resource-rich developing countries. PWYP is supported by an international coalition of more than 300 development organizations, involved in the fight against corruption and the defense of human rights. Member organizations come from 50 different countries. These organizations hold that revenue transparency is an essential condition to reduce poverty, promote a fair and just development, increase social responsibility and reduce corruption in resource-rich developing countries.

Internationally, the PWYP campaign demands that financial markets and international accounting standards require oil, gas and mining companies to publish their net payments to governments (for more: www.publishwhatyoupay.org). The extractive industries are present in more than 50 developing countries, with total populations of 3.5 billion people, half of which live in extreme poverty conditions. Like in other countries, the management of oil revenues in Cameroon has not so far contributed to significant development.

Cameroon joined the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) during the EITI conference held in London in March 2005. The minister of finance, Mr. Polycarpe Abah Abah, who represented Cameroon in the London conference, solemnly declared that the Cameroonian government would join the EITI. This declaration was followed on June 16, 2005 by a bill allowing the creation of a managing committee and the implementation of EITI. Placed under the authority of the Ministry of Finance, this committee is made up of government, private sector and civil society representatives. An Action plan has been elaborated by the committee and is currently being approved.

The fact that Cameroon joined the EITI and the conception of a national EITI action plan are encouraging signs. However, civil society must remain engaged in:

• Improving the quality of consultation of civil society actors, which is a fundamental requirement of the EITI process in the implementation of the action plan and the subsequent phases;


• Improving the quality of the action plan, notably as far as publication and dissemination of information are concerned. In contrast to the provision of the current action plan, the member NGOs of the Cameroonian coalition believe that the publication of revenues received by the government from different oil companies should be on an individual basis;


• Watching over the conformity of the process with international best practices observed in other countries.

The importance of oil for the national economy, the ongoing exploration activities in Cameroon and in the entire continent, as well as the potential of gas and mining operations in Africa call for a rigorous implementation of the EITI by the government. The coalition is committed to the success of the EITI process. It will stay vigilant and ensure that both the government and the private sector abide by their commitments.

Members of the Cameroonian Coalition “Publish What You Pay”

• Service National Justice et Paix (SNJP)/Conférence Episcopale Nationale du Cameroun (CENC)
• Service Œcuménique pour la Paix (SeP)
• Fondation Camerounaise d’Actions Rationalisées et de Formation sur l’Environnement (FOCARFE)
• Transparency International Cameroun (TIC)
• Centre pour l’Environnement et le Développement (CED)
• Réseau de Lutte contre la Faim (RELUFA)
• Environnement Recherche Action- Cameroun (ERA)

COALITION CAMEROUNAISE

‘‘Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez’’
Yaoundé, 30 novembre 2005

A l’attention de la Presse nationale et internationale

L’occasion du lancement de la coalition camerounaise « Publiez Ce Que Vous Payez » nous donne l’honneur de vous convier à une conférence de Presse le mardi 6 décembre 2005 à 11 heures précises à la Chambre d’Agriculture à Yaoundé.

Vous trouverez ci-joint quelques informations nécessaires à une meilleure compréhension de cette initiative.

Les membres de la coalition sont à votre disposition pour vous apporter d’autres informations complémentaires dont vous aurez besoin.

Download Resource here