Another International recognition

Akere Muna

Akere Muna appointed New IACC Council Chair
By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda
The Board of corruption watchdog, Transparency International, TI has appointed Akere Muna as Chair of the International Anti-Corruption Conference Council. The Cameroonian jurist was elected for a six-year mandate on 16th October 2014 during a meeting in Berlin-Germany.
    In line with the amended IACC Council Constitution, as secretariat to the IACC Council, TI appoints the Council Chair for a term of three Conference cycles, a total of six years.
    Mr. Muna served as acting-Chair following the passing of beloved IACC Chair Hon. Justice Barry O’Keefe. Like Justice O’Keefe, Mr. Muna is a barrister with a distinguished career in law. 
    At home, Akere MUNA piloted the affairs of the Cameroon Bar Association in 1997 after having been member and representative of the President of the Bar in the Centre, South and East Regions (formerly Provinces) in Cameroon.
    As President, he led the association for five (5) years during which, the Bar was given a facelift and respectability. His quest for justice and transparency in the management of public affairs, pushed him in 2000 to initiate the creation of the Cameroon Branch of Transparency International (IT), a German based Non-Governmental Organization whose prime mission is to fight against corruption in all its facets.

    After serving as Pioneer President, four years later, Akere MUNA was voted Vice President at the international Head Office in Germany and was reelected its Vice President in October 2008. In 2005 he was voted as the President of the Pan African Lawyers’ Union (PALU) in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia and three years later, he was reelected by plebiscite by his peers in July 2009 at the helm of PALU.
    He has been member or president of many commissions or specialized organs that have something to do with his profession. For instance, the National Commission for the fight against Fiscal Fraud, the National Ad-hoc Commission for the fight against Corruption, The Coalition of African Chapters of Transparency International, the Ethics Committee of Transparency International, as well as the International Anti Corruption Council (IACC), the High Level Panel on the Audit of the African Union, the Commission for implementation of the Principles of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Cameroon, Commonwealth Observer in Elections and the Interim Standing Committee of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) of the African Union.
    His constant fight for the voiceless and social justice; alongside other African colleagues convinced the African Union to create thaisting of civil society organizations representing the Africapeople that are involved in a wide range of activities to foster the development and goals of the African Union.
    Akere MUNA was unanimously elected Presiding Officer of the First Permanent General Assembly of ECOSOCC in September 2008 and was sworn in by H.E. President Jakaya KIKWETE of the United Republic of Tanzania, Chairperson of the African Union. Akere has an extensive engagement with civil society and the advancement of the Pan-African cause that dates back to his early years as a student
    The IACC is an international forum which unites Heads of States and members of the civil society and private sector towards the eradication of corruption in all sectors.
    Throughout the years the IACC has contributed to bringing solutions to many of the worlds most pressing challenges. For example, the Athens Conference in 2008 was the first international forum to discuss the risks related to corruption and climate change, and the formation of conventions such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention were discussed during previous IACCs.