Cameroon 2009-2010 EITI Conciliation Reports: When Delays and Improvement Mingle

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The Cameroon 2009 and 2010 conciliation report within the framework of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) was validated and officially presented on February 22, 2013 during a ceremony presided over by the Minister of Finance, Chairman of the Cameroon EITI Committee.

This fourth conciliation report prepared by the MOORE STEPHENS CONSULTANCY comes three years after the 2006, 2007, 2008 conciliation report published in July 2010 and in a context where Cameroon has been given until August 2013 to achieve compliance.

Through this report, the Cameroonian Coalition of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) notes that:

- The report is delayed with regards to the deadline of 31 December 2012 issued by the EITI International Secretariat

- The EITI multi-stakeholder group stepped up efforts to achieve and improve the quality of the report among others:

• The publication of disaggregated figures and volumes
• The scoping study that delineated the scope of conciliation and set a materiality threshold
• The inclusion of other state entities like the Directorate General of Customs (DGD) in the conciliation

- Unfortunately, the materiality threshold set at 50 million CFAF has scaled down the number of mining companies involved in the conciliation

Moreover, CCPWYP regret the following shortcomings:

1. Late reporting of data to the Conciliator by some companies and public entities
2. Inability of the Department of Mines and Geology to produce statistical data on mining projects
3. Insufficient control of mining revenues by the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
4. Non systematic delivery of receipts by the Directorate General of Customs to extractive industries and Hydrocarbons transportation companies
5. Issuing of manual receipts related to extractive revenue by services within the Treasury and the Directorate General of Taxes (DGI)
6. Insufficient traceability of payments destined for councils and local communities (subnational payments)

With these observations and weaknesses and for a successful implementation of the EITI in Cameroon, the Cameroonian PWYP Coalition request :

1.  The comprehensive and effective implementation of the conciliator's recommendations
2. A systematic reporting of information by companies when making their payments to various administrations and agencies of the State,
3. The establishment of a centralized statistical information unit and publication at the regional level of mining data,
4. The computerization of mining revenue collection at public institutions including the Directorate General of Customs and the Directorate General of Taxes,
5. The establishment of mechanisms to ensure the traceability of the redistribution of revenues from extractive industries for the benefit of local communities, councils and regions

In addition, CCPWYP reiterates its previous recommendations relating to:

1. Urgency to publish without exception, the contracts between extractive companies and the government of Cameroon,
2. The need to reduce the materiality threshold to expand the number of companies within the scope of conciliation,
3. The annual publication of subsequent Cameroon EITI conciliation reports following the rules, principles and requirements of the EITI,
4. The adoption of an EITI law so as to give the initiative legal basis in Cameroon

Beyond the foregoing, the CCPWYP urges the Cameroon EITI Committee to clearly communicate on the 2009 and 2010 conciliation reports whose publication is still awaited.

Yaounde 1st March 2013

For More information

Technical Secretary – Publish What You Pay - Cameroon

Phone: 00 237 22 03 23 41

E-mail : pwypcameroon@yahoo.fr , website : www.publishwhatyoupaycm.org