Prominent international peace crusader and senior legal luminary, Sir Dr. Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has raised strong concerns over the state of democracy and governance in Africa, lamenting what he described as widespread falsehood during electoral processes.
Speaking on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at a joint conference and book launch at the Krystal Palace Hotel in Douala, the refined peace and justice crusader warned that truth and honesty, fundamental moral values, are too often sacrificed for political gain.
“During elections in Africa, falsehood is everywhere. Many politicians say what they do not mean, and make promises they have no intention of fulfilling,” Sir. Dr. Barrister Halle said, drawing from his long experience as an international election observer.
Sir Dr. Barrister Nico Halle Addressing the Media.He compared today’s political climate to Abraham Lincoln’s celebrated definition of democracy as “government of the people, by the people, and for the people,” regretting that in Africa, it has been distorted into “government of some people, by some people, and for some people.”
The veteran lawyer and North West Ntumfor speaking as one of three keynote speakers at the event, alongside Sheik Mohammed, who addressed the role of science and spirituality in development, and Dr. Richard Fru, who spoke on holistic treatment of sickness.
Sir. Dr. Barr. Nico Halle and Prof Akuhmbom Making Public the Two Books.The occasion also marked the launch of two books authored by Prof. Akuhumbom Mac Anthony: The Science of Mindset Transformation and The Quantum Field Theory of Holistic Human Change.
Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, who was awarded the Pan African Peace Icon Prize by PANAFES in 2023, used the platform to reflect on the moral crisis undermining African societies. He insisted that success in life depends more on attitude than aptitude, arguing that while natural ability accounts for only ten percent of success, character and mindset define the remaining ninety percent.
“If someone has great skill but a bad attitude, that person will ultimately fail,” he said. “But when one embraces love, other moral values such as honesty, accountability, peace, and justice naturally follow.”
Sir. Dr. Barr. Nico Halle, Saying Corruption and Embezzlement is Africa's Greatest Obstables.He warned that corruption and embezzlement remain Africa’s greatest obstacles, depriving citizens of their rightful resources and leaving populations in poverty despite the continent’s vast natural wealth. “Embezzlement is nothing short of stealing from many. Church funds belong to the congregation, state funds belong to citizens, and family funds belong to all family members. To steal them is to rob the many for the gain of the few,” Sir Dr. Barrister Halle declared. He described corruption as the reason Africa, the world’s richest continent in natural resources, is paradoxically its poorest.
The election expert further distinguished between good and bad governance, noting that while true governance demands transparency and accountability, most African states lack both. He accused leaders of treating citizens as inferior and withholding critical information on how public resources are managed. “It is bad governance that has made Africa a laughing stock despite God’s abundant blessings,” he observed.
Sir Dr. Nico Halle also touched on the question of patriotism, denouncing Africans who collude with corrupt officials or foreign actors to plunder state resources. He singled out unscrupulous contractors who inflate project costs or deliver substandard work, branding them “thieves and unpatriotic citizens” who hold back national development. “Before you accuse someone else of being unpatriotic, first ask yourself: Are you patriotic? Do you have the moral authority to speak about patriotism?” he asked.
Sir. Dr. Barr. Nico Halle Insists that Respect Must Be Earned.On the theme of respect, the sound and level-headed native of Awing based in the Economic capital underlined its importance as both a cultural and moral foundation. He reminded younger generations to respect elders, but also urged elders to lead by example through self-discipline and integrity.
“Respect is earned,” he cautioned, adding that those who indulge in corruption, dishonesty, or other vices cannot expect society to honour them.
Cross Section of Participants During Book Launch.The veteran jurist, who has spent more than three decades crusading for peace, justice, accountability, and human rights, admitted that he regularly questions his own moral authority before speaking out. “I do not claim perfection,” he said.
“Perfection belongs only to heaven. But each of us must strive daily to walk the path of moral values.”
As Africa prepares for a series of high-stakes elections in countries such as Guinea, the Ivory Coast, and Cameroon later this year, Sir Dr. Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle’s message was clear: without truth, accountability, and moral integrity, democracy risks becoming an empty promise, and governance a tool of exploitation rather than service.
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