Agbor Balla: Cameroon’s Contract Culture Exposing State to Financial Losses. BUEA, Cameroon — Human rights advocate and founder of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA), Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor, known as Agbor Balla, has issued a stark warning about the financial and economic consequences of Cameroon’s casual approach to contracts.
In a recent analysis, Balla highlights how the country’s disregard for contractual obligations is leading to significant financial losses and long-term economic damage.
According to Balla, many Cameroonian officials mistakenly believe that decisions made in Yaoundé are purely domestic.
However, he emphasizes that contracts signed by the Cameroonian State are enforceable internationally, in jurisdictions such as Paris, London, Washington, and The Hague. This means that Cameroon is held accountable under global legal norms, just like any other debtor state.
Balla argues that a troubling culture has emerged in Cameroon, where public contracts are treated as flexible political tools rather than binding legal obligations.
Contracts are often suspended, modified, or terminated without due process, sometimes following changes in leadership or political priorities. While such decisions may seem cost-free domestically, the international legal system offers no such protection.
Each violation of contracts exposes the country to international arbitration, costly litigation, compensation awards running into billions of francs, reputational damage, and economic losses.
Balla emphasizes that the burden of these costs falls on the citizens of Cameroon. He points to several high-profile cases where Cameroon has faced severe financial penalties for contractual failures.
One notable example is the dismissal of former Indomitable Lions coach Antonio Conceição, which led to a ruling by FIFA and the Swiss Federal Tribunal ordering Cameroon to pay over 1.
6 million euros. Another case involves the Olembe Sports Complex in Yaoundé, where disputes with contractor Magil Construction escalated to international arbitration in Paris, resulting in an order for Cameroon to deposit more than 15 billion CFA francs into an escrow account.
Balla also warns about the ongoing contractual tensions involving SGS, a Swiss multinational responsible for inspection and verification services linked to customs.
Any unilateral attempt to alter the SGS contract without due process could trigger international arbitration with severe consequences. Balla, who won the 2024 American Bar Association International Human Rights Award, stresses the importance of good governance and the need to honor contracts.
He argues that a state that cannot keep its word cannot build a sustainable economy. “
The paradox, “he says, “is that Cameroon spends more money fighting contracts than honoring them. Contracts are not threats to sovereignty; they are instruments of credibility.”.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
