«CHOC Project» At Centre of Anti-corruption Crusade

Emmanuel Kendemeh

5 August 2011

The Change Habits, Oppose Corruption (CHOC) Project has been helping government implement anti-corruption conventions and draw up national strategy.

The Change Habits, Oppose Corruption (CHOC) Projected created on February 23, 2007, has been instrumental in the fight against corruption in Cameroon. The Prime Minister, Head of Government chairs the Steering Committee of the Project that seeks to enable Cameroon government implement the United Nations Convention on the fight against corruption and draw up a national anti-corruption strategy.

Government’s focal Point in CHOC Project, Abba Sadou, who is also a Special Adviser at the Prime Minister’s Office told Cameroon Tribune in July 2011 that it also trains national anti-corruption institutions staff and helps government in making civil society organisations and the private sector become deeply involved in fighting corruption.

Members of the Steering Committee of the CHOC Project met in its fifth session in Yaounde on July 6, 2011 chaired by Prime Minister Philemon Yang and, “unanimously recommended that the CHOC Project be extended for a second phase to start in January 2012,” the press release issued after the meeting disclosed. The first phase of the Project that started on February 23, 2007 expires on December 31, 2011.

The extension of CHOC Project’s mandate for the next five years, is because of its positive results. “The implementation of CHOC Project is satisfactory overall since it has enabled especially operational the National Anti-corruption Commission (NACC), the design of the first component of the national anti-corruption strategy and the civil society’s greater involvement in this fight,” the release signed by the Secretary General at the Prime Minister’s Office, Jules Doret Ndongo stated.

The project has also been instrumental in drafting an anti-corruption bill that has been submitted to competent authorities pending its tabling at the National Assembly for scrutiny and adoption.

Government’s focal point in the project says it has helped to build the capacities of staff of the National Anti-corruption Commission (NACC), Cameroon’s Chapter of Transparency International, anti-corruption civil society organisations and the private sector.

Government is preparing to draw up the second National Anti-corruption Strategy that will take into account sectors not included in the first strategy currently being implemented that covers 15 sectors.

CHOC Project during its second phase, Abba Sadou said will continuously work for the effective implementation of the national anti-corruption strategy, draw up the second strategy, and work closely with other actors to reform and restructure the anti-corruption units in ministries to make them more operational and effective. Government and international donors created the project to curb the corruption scourge in the country.

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