| Cameroon: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Public Access to Information | ||
| Indicators | Score | |
| 12 | Do citizens have a legal right of access to information? | 67 |
| 13 | Is the right of access to information effective? | 15 |
Indicator and sub-Indicator Details
| 12 | Do citizens have a legal right of access to information? | |||||||
| 12a: In law, citizens have a right of access to government information and basic government records. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: In accordance with the preamble of the Constitution of January 18, 1996
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| 12b: In law, citizens have a right of appeal if access to a basic government record is denied. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: In accordance with the preamble of the constitution of January 18, 1996 (www.prc.cm).
Peer Review Comments: Actually, there is no specific law on the access to information. Transparency International Cameroon drafted a bill on the access to information, but it has not been adopted.
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| 12c: In law, there is an established institutional mechanism through which citizens can request government records. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: - The law N° 90/O52 of December 19, 1999 on Social Communication make no mention of any such institution or mechanism (www.mincom.gov.cm).
Peer Review Comments: Par contre, un citoyen peut passer par un député pour exprimer ses préoccupations. Il existe en effet des séances de questions orales (en fait, elles sont écrites) à l'Assemblée nationale, même si celles-ci sont considérées par une grande partie de l'opinion comme inefficaces. Ce mécanisme est prévu par la constitution.
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| 13 | Is the right of access to information effective? | |||||||
| 13a: In practice, citizens receive responses to access to information requests within a reasonable time period. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: - Edouard Tamba, "Contentieux: l'affaire Freedom Fm rebondit," in Le Messager, 04/05/2007 (www.lemessager.net). - Norbert Ouendji, "Medias et pouvoir politique au Cameroun. Les journalistes face à la santé présidentielle," Marseille, Les Belles Pages, 2006.
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| 13b: In practice, citizens can use the access to information mechanism at a reasonable cost. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: - Edouard Tamba, "Contentieux: l'affaire Freedom Fm rebondit," in Le Messager, 04/05/2007 (www.lemessager.net). - Norbert Ouendji, "Medias et pouvoir politique au Cameroun. Les journalistes face à la santé présidentielle," Marseille, Les Belles Pages, 2006. - Interview of Norbert Ouendji, member of IJBA, "Le journalisme avec peine au Cameroun," in [ LINK ]
Peer Review Comments: L'accès aux documents officiels est très difficile. On perd un temps considérable, alors que cela nécessite généralement un investissement financier non négligeable. Parfois, les journalistes de la presse privée sont obligés d'acheter des outils comme les decrets présidentiels.
Peer Review Comments: There is no laid-out mechanism.
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| 13c: In practice, citizens can resolve appeals to access to information requests within a reasonable time period. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: - Interview of Norbert Ouendji, member of IJBA (Former student, School of journalism, Bordeaux), "Le journalisme avec peine au Cameroun," in [ LINK ] - Edouard Tamba, "Contentieux: l'affaire Freedom Fm rebondit," in Le Messager, 04 May 2007. - Interview of Felix Zogo, Technical Adviser of the Ministry of communication, "Pourquoi Radio Veritas a été autorisée", in Cameroon Tribune, 15 December 2003. ([ LINK ]).
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| 13d: In practice, citizens can resolve appeals to information requests at a reasonable cost. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: -Interview with Norbert Ouendji, member of IJBA (Former student, School of journalism, Bordeaux), "Le journalisme avec peine au Cameroun," at [ LINK ] - Edouard Tamba, "Contentieux: l'affaire Freedom Fm rebondit," in Le Messager, 04 May 2007. - Interview of Felix Zogo, Technical Adviser of the Ministry of communication, "Pourquoi Radio Veritas a été autorisée," in Cameroon Tribune, 15 December 2003. ([ LINK ])
Peer Review Comments: No such mechanism exists.
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| 13e: In practice, the government gives reasons for denying an information request. | ||||||||
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Comments: References: - Interview of Norbert Ouendji, member of IJBA (Former student, School of journalism, Bordeaux), "Le journalisme avec peine au Cameroun, at [ LINK ] - Edouard Tamba, "Contentieux: l'affaire Freedom Fm rebondit," in Le Messager, 04 May 2007. - Interview of Felix Zogo, Technical Adviser of the Ministry of communication, "Pourquoi Radio Veritas a été autorisée," in Cameroon Tribune, 15 December 2003. ([ LINK ])
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