Recent Afrobarometer data reveals a troubling reality: 57% of Cameroonians admit to paying bribes to avoid trouble with police, while nearly half have bribed officials for identity documents and 37% for medical care.

In an exclusive interview, Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona—now living in exile—sharply criticised the country’s corruption crisis, with a particular focus on the youth.

“The youth in Cameroon are deeply corrupt. They’ve been raised in this system. Most expect handouts rather than hard work. There are exceptions, but they’re rare. I don’t believe Cameroon will recover from this.”

Bona’s comments ignited fierce debate online. One social media user commented: “Children know that when a police officer approaches, it’s not for their safety—it’s to demand 500 francs.”

In Yaoundé’s streets, opinions are divided. Some acknowledge the problem but push back against generalisations.

“Yes, there are corrupt youth. But most are victims of a corrupt system.”

“While some take shortcuts, judging an entire generation by its flaws is unfair. Many young Cameroonians fight for change with dignity and determination.”

Cameroon’s global standing

Transparency International’s latest rankings place Cameroon at 142nd out of 182 countries for corruption, a stark indicator of systemic issues.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (Conac) admitted in its 2024 report that billions of CFA francs continue to vanish from state coffers due to embezzlement.

One civil servant anonymously stated: “Many young people don’t even recognise corruption as wrong. They’ve grown up in it.”

Yet others argue that Cameroon’s progress is driven by its youth.

“If all young people were corrupt, the country would be paralysed.”

Youth trapped in a corrupt system

Legal expert Maître Akere Muna, founder of Transparency International Cameroon, offers a nuanced view: “Young people aren’t just corrupt—they’re trapped in a system that forces them to comply.”

“Corruption in Cameroon is systemic. Youth aren’t in positions of power, so they suffer the consequences. They adapt to survive, but their future is at stake. They must speak out.”

Muna highlights decades of entrenched practices where “connections and nepotism matter more than competence.”

He advocates for education that rewards effort, stressing: “Hard work should be the path to success—not laziness.”

Conac urges public and private sector employees, as well as citizens, to report corruption via its hotline, 1517.