Cameroon Survival Fund:

Bank Ordered to Close Kamto’s Covid-19 Account
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde
The Minister of Territorial Administration has ordered the closure of all accounts created by the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM party to collect funds to assist in the fight against the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country.
    In a letter addressed to Afriland First Bank Thursday 9 April 2020 a copy of which The Median procured, Paul Atanga Nji ordered the financial institution to with immediate effect freeze all accounts created by leaders of some political parties and associations with the aim of fighting the coronavirus.
    The order from the MINAT boss comes barely two days after he issued another communique Tuesday 7 April, requesting some leaders of political parties and groups to halt all public fundraisings organise in the fight of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
    The release was issues after Kamto in an address to his followers in and out of the country created what he term the Survival Fund, an initiative to raise funds and assists in the fight against the spread of the virus in Cameroon.
    Kamto noted his initiative was to close the gaps in the fight against the pandemic following government’s weak measures put in place as well as the failure of the President to address his compatriots in the face of a global pandemic.
    Atanga Nji in the release evoked the legal provisions binding public fundraisings and urged political party leaders to join the National Solidarity Fund created by government and follow the laid down rules guiding such initiatives.

“The Minister of Territorial Administration has noticed, with dismay that leaders of some political parties and associations have called for public fundraising, allegedly for the same purpose, in defiance of the legislation in force.     The Minister would like to remind here that fundraising in the event of a crisis or disaster is regulated by Law No. 83/002 of 21 July 1983 governing appeals for public generosity and Decree No. 85/1131 of 14 August 1985 to lay down the conditions for authorisation of an appeal for public generosity,” he said, adding that the aforementioned legal provisions formally prohibits any individual or organisation of any kind, from calling for public generosity without due authorisation from his ministerial department.
    “…all those who have taken upon themselves to organise these illegal fundraising activities to stop immediately, to close any bank account opened for this purpose and to report to him as soon as possible, without prejudice to the penalties provided for by the legislation in force,” Atanga Nji earlier warned.
    He called on Cameroonians or organisation of goodwill wishing to contribute to the fight against virus to do so in all transparency, within the framework defined by the Head of State and implemented by the Prime, Head of Government.
    He urged all banks and microfinance establishments lodging unauthorized accounts to close them immediately and only reopen upon explicit consent from him or be punished in accordance with the laws in force.