After Akere Muna's outing: Transparency International clarifies collaboration with SNH.

The clarification is contained in a three-page communique of the Board of Directors of TI-C, issued on March 9, 2026. It was signed by the President of Transparency International Cameroon, Barrister Henry Njoh Manga Bell. 

The outing follows fears Barrister Akere Muna raised on the collaboration between Transparency International Cameroon and SNH. 

Akere, in his March 5, 2026 outing, had expressed fears that such collaboration could seriously hamper governance and transparency. 

Akere had called on TI-C to convene an Extraordinary General Assembly to publicly clarify its engagement with SNH, safeguard independence, disclose all terms, and demand accountability and reforms.

TI-C firmly focused on fundamental objective

Reacting to Akere’s fears, Transparency International Cameroon, in the statement, insisted on its legitimacy and governance, insisting that the organisation is “led by its statutory bodies and current elected representatives”.

“While TI-C honours the legacy of its founding members, it points out that the positions taken by individuals who no longer hold executive or deliberative positions and who are otherwise engaged in partisan political activities do not in any way commit the national section to any responsibility or strategic line,” the statement reads in part.

TI-C, through the statement, called on “its members, partners and the general public not to give in to confusion or escalation between political debate and citizen action”.

The organisation, Barrister Njoh Manga Bell insisted, “remains firmly focused on its fundamental objective: the transformation of Cameroonian institutions for the transparent and responsible management of public resources, for the exclusive benefit of all citizens”. 

Proven, sought-after institutional expertise

Transparency International Cameroon explained that the collaboration with SNH is part of its time-tested 25-year track record of expertise “in promoting integrity” in Cameroon. 

It further detailed that “SNH's request for a governance assessment is not an isolated incident”, but follows a series of recent technical interventions TI-C has had with major administrations and companies. 

Barrister Njoh Manga Bell recalled that TI-C has already deployed its integrity engineering and capacity-building modules to the Customs Directorate General in Douala for improving the transparency of customs procedures.

He also cited collaboration with the Standards and Quality Agency, ANOR, and petroleum transportation company, TRADEX, in 2025, and the Nachtigal Hydro Power Company, NHPC, in 2024. 

Barrister Njoh Manga Bell added that leading corporate partners such as MTN, Orange many other multinationals have approached TI-C because they “trust our expertise to secure their investments”. 

Nature of collaboration with SNH & Glencore affair

Replying to Akere’s concerns regarding governance and transparency in the extractive sector, particularly in light of international proceedings and findings linked to the GLENCORE corruption scandal, Barrister Njoh Manga Bell clarified that TI-C, in line with its mission to promote integrity, was officially requested by the SNH to “conduct a governance assessment”. 

“This technical advocacy initiative is part of a drive to encourage public institutions to increase transparency through rigorous auditing of procedures,” he stated. 

On the absolute independence of Transparency International Cameroon, Barrister Njoh Manga Bell declared that: “Any collaboration with a public or private entity is strictly conditional upon compliance with the protocols of Transparency International (Berlin), guaranteeing complete independence of judgement”. 

Harping on the Glencore Affair, he clarified that the desire for reform expressed by the SNH does not in any way “interfere with ongoing legal proceedings or hinder the search for the truth”.

Barrister Njoh Manga Bell said on the contrary, “TI-C reaffirms its demand that all allegations of corruption be fully investigated”.

Anti-corruption fight cannot be limited to mere declarations

Transparency international Cameroon, through the release, reaffirmed that the fight against corruption “cannot be limited to mere declarations of intent”, but “through real technical commitment, procedural audits and citizen oversight that structural changes can be brought about”. 

The organisation insisted that as “a member of the EITI Cameroon Committee and a strategic partner of anti-corruption units in several ministeries, including MINJUSTICE, MINFI and others, TI-C does not engage in any "image-building" activities”.

It insisted that the “organisation remains strictly faithful to its principles of rigour, independence and impartiality”. 

Flashback on SNH, TI-C collaboration 

It makes sense to recall that SNH officials had opened discussions with Transparency International Cameroon on February 26, 2026. The aim was to strengthen its governance and anti-corruption systems, review existing institutional mechanisms and identify ways to improve SNH’s effectiveness in the oil and gas sectors.

SNH’s Executive General Manager, was represented at the exchange by the Technical Adviser No.2, Nathalie Moudiki, while Transparency International Cameroon delegation was led by its President, Barrister Henry Njoh Manga Bell. 

TI-C had during the discussion acknowledged that SNH has established governance structures in line with international expectations. 

The TI-C team had also stressed on the need to ensure that the various bodies created are fully operational to deliver tangible results in the fight against corruption.

SNH officials used the exchange to present its governance framework, indicating that close to ten internal structures have been deployed.

They cited an Anti-Corruption Unit, an Internal Audit Unit, the SNH Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Committee, the Permanent Commission for the Negotiation of Oil and Gas Contracts, the Procurement Unit and the Public Contracts Commission.

The corporation also reported that it has adopted an ethics code and obtained ISO 9001 quality management certification, which are being progressively implemented. 

It also mentioned regular publication of information on its petroleum and gas activities through its website, annual reports and internal publication of its financial statements, while internal, external and joint audits are conducted as well as collaborates with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, CONAC. 

TI-C had at the end of the exchange, expressed readiness to hone the capacity of SNH staff in governance practices.

The article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3730 of Friday March 13, 2026