Cameroon's candidates of the 2018 Presidential Elections

Barrister Akere Muna and the New Republic

Akere Tabeng Muna is a lawyer who was born in August 1952 in the North-West Region of Cameroon.

He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations in 1975 from the American University in Washington, D.C. and later moved to England, where he joined the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn.

After he was called to the Bar in England in 1978, he returned to Cameroon, and joined the legal practice of his brother, Bernard Muna. In 1984, the legal practice was converted into a Law Firm called Muna, Muna & Associates.

In 1997, he assumed the Presidency of the Cameroon Bar Association following a landslide victory.

In 2000, Barrister Akere Muna founded the Cameroon chapter of the Anti-Corruption Watchdog, Transparency International.

In 2004, another red feather was added to his cap when he was elected to the Board of Directors of Transparency International and was later designated as the Coordinator of the Coalition of African Chapters of TI.

In 2005, he was elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of TI and he stepped down in 2014, after serving the maximum number of terms.

He was thereafter appointed by the Board of Directors of TI as Chair of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) Council.

Barrister Akere Muna was a founding member of the Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU), and in July 2005, he was unanimously elected President of the organisation by the heads of the various African Bar Association.

In September 2008, the illustrious son from Momo Division in the North West Region was President of ECOSOCC and in 2012, he became a member of the High Level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa, a body established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.

On February 11, 2013, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (ADB) approved the appointment of Barrister Akere Muna as Sanctions Commissioner of the African Development Bank.

The Legal Luminary is married to Beverly Bird, and is a father of two daughters, Lydia Muna and Kandi Muna.

 Akere Muna, Candidate of the 2018 Presidential Elections

Akere Muna, the “Now Movement ” candidate for the 2018 Presidential Elections presented a- fifty- commitment guide on which his presidency will be based. The commitments are contained in a thirteen page document published in the build-up to the election.

Apart from being just a manifesto, the thirteen page document carries a detailed Execution Plan of reforms necessary for what Akere Muna describes as “the New Republic”.

Akere Muna has been inspired by the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM); a mechanism for monitoring governance for African Union ( AU ) member states.

The candidate affirms that only seventeen AU Member Countries, approximately 23% have successfully completed the self-assessment exercise and peer reviewed program. The states concerned were evaluated by the forum of heads of State and government.

In order to increase participation, the “Now Movement” Presidential Candidate and a group of experts identified some areas where concrete reforms are needed.

The four main areas are grouped as follows:

1 – Democracy, Political Governance and Justice

-A two term presidential mandate of five years each.

-Institution of a system where all members of the Senate and Parliament are elected.
-Reduction of administration’s influence on the media.

2. Governance and Economic Development

- Reduction of number and types of taxes.

- Subventions to Cameroonian companies abroad.

3. Social Development and Inclusion Plan

-Introduction of a system of parity in government.

-Salary increase for teachers.

- Creation of schools and hospital within each mile in communities.

4. Cameroon in the World

-The institution of dual nationality.

- Representation of the Diaspora in the National Assembly.

Akere Muna argues that the above reforms will uphold values, standards and practices of political/ economic governance.

With these in place, there is also a guarantee of political stability while sub regional and continental growth and integration will be accelerated.

The flag bearer of the Popular Front for Development PFD Akere Muna,  declared his assets and health records before kicking off his campaigns.

He is the first and only person amongst the nine candidates to have done such and during a press conference organised at his Head Quarters to unveil his campaign schedule, Akere Muna stressed on transparency and accountability as the watch words for the “New Republic” which he is trying to build for Cameroonians.
He thus used the occasion to present his personal documents which show that he has four bank accounts in Cameroon lodged at the Ecobank, SGBC, NFC and UBC Banks. He also has an account at the CityBank in New-York and one at the NatwestBank Camdem Town Branch in London.
In terms of his assets, he inherits one-seventh of landed property on the estate of the late Salomon Tandeng Muna, his father. To this day, he has not erected any building. He also has life insurance to cover his funeral expenses.

Akere Muna also owns a Toyota Landcruiser V8 vehicle worth 40 million CFA francs and another 2015 Chrysler 300 model vehicle, valued at 21 million CFA francs.

As for his health, Akere Muna (66), 1m80, 106kg is doing well, according to his medical report. He has a normal heart beat according to the medical report signed by Dr. Joshua Walinjom on duty at the Yaounde Central Hospital.

Akere says by making these private information public, he is paving the way for the implementation of Article 66 of the 18 January 1996 Constitution on the declaration of assets. Once in office, Akere Muna says he will oblige all those managing public funds to declare their assets before taking office.

He started his campaigns in Ebolowa in the South Region and has since travelled through the country to woo voters.

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