Veteran Cameroonian lawyer, anti-corruption campaigner, and international rights advocate Akere Tabeng Muna has been honoured with the "Anti-Corruption Titan of the Decade Award." This was during The Voice newspaper's 10th Anniversary Decennial Trendsetters Awards in Yaoundé on Saturday, May 30, 2026.
In a video message delivered during the ceremony, the former President of the Cameroon Bar Association dedicated the award to journalists, whistleblowers, civil society activists, honest public servants, and ordinary citizens working to promote integrity in public life.
Accepting the distinction, the simple, classic, and down-to-earth native of Momo Division in the North West Region described the recognition as a mandate to continue the fight against corruption and strengthen accountability in Cameroon. "This recognition comes not merely from an institution. It comes from the public conscience," he said.
Akere Muna praised The Voice for what he described as a decade of courageous and independent journalism, stressing that a free press remains one of the strongest safeguards against corruption. "The independence of the press is one of the first casualties of corruption because when truth is bought, accountability dies," he said.
The international anti-corruption advocate warned that corruption continues to deprive citizens of essential services and economic opportunities, arguing that the issue extends beyond stolen public funds. "Corruption is not only about stolen money. It is about stolen opportunities," Muna said. "When public resources are diverted, it is the future that is being robbed."
Drawing on his decades of work in governance and transparency initiatives across Africa, the veteran lawyer and refined global peace champion highlighted the importance of citizen participation in monitoring public spending. He pointed to a new budget tracking initiative being prepared by The NOW Movement, an accountability platform he founded, aimed at helping citizens follow public resources from allocation to implementation.
Akere Muna also referenced his investigations into the international Glencore corruption scandal involving allegations of bribery linked to African state institutions, describing the fight against corruption as a long and often difficult struggle requiring persistence and moral courage. He paid tribute to public officials who resist corruption despite professional and personal risks, calling them "the quiet guardians of the Republic."
He wrapped up his video presentation to a jam-packed event hall by urging Cameroonians to continue demanding transparency, accountability, and good governance, expressing confidence that the country possesses the talent and moral resources needed to build a more accountable future.
The award that was worth recalling was presented as part of The Voice's celebration of ten years of journalism under its motto, "The Audacity of Truth."
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