Slackening of entry conditions into Cameroon

By Peter Musa

We recently witnesed the government applauding herself over the liberalisation of various aspects of life in the country when like a lizard that fell from a tree it nodded its head saying "yes, I have done it!" This was in reaction to the U.S. Embassy's press release on the democratisation process in Cameroon. The recent slackening conditions for entry into Cameroon is one action for which the government has not got to blow its trumpet. The rationale behind this action not withstanding, many questions are left unanswered.

Yes, tourists will definitely come in with a lot of foreign exchange but at what cost to the nation? What in the absence of correct infrastructure and personnel  for the handling of such a volume of tourists as it is envisaged? Kimbi Game Reserve in the North West Province, has only one staff who is the conservator and there are no lodging facilities for tourists. How do we expect this lone worker to receive a hundred tourists alone? We should equally consider the impact on the environment of heavy tourism. How many of these countries from where we expect our tourists will grant entry visas at their at their ports of entry to Cameroonians? How sure are we that some of such tourists would be financially viable to sustain their stay in Cameroon? What becomes of a tourist at the port of entry that is refused entry into the country? Are we going to test these visitors for HIV as is done in some of these countries? Are we not opening our borders to fleeing criminals and drug traffickers? In the light of the above considerations, I believe it will be more honourable for us to remain in our poverty if the only way out would be to sell our country cheap to tourists.

The Herald No. 180

Monday February 20 - 22, 1995