Veteran Cameroonian lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner Akere Tabeng Muna has called on lawyers to play a leading role in defending the rule of law, fighting corruption, and rebuilding public trust in institutions.
Speaking at the Bar Law Dinner in Bamenda on Saturday, May 30, 2026, the former President of the Cameroon Bar Association said the legal profession must be guided by three principles: professional competence, personal integrity, and civic responsibility.
"A lawyer must be more than a technician of the law," Muna told judges, magistrates, and legal practitioners. "The profession demands courage, honour and commitment to the public good."
Barrister Akere Muna warned that corruption remains one of the greatest threats to development and democracy in Africa, arguing that lawyers have a responsibility to challenge systems that enable the misuse of public resources.
Drawing on his international work in governance and anti-corruption, he highlighted the impact of illicit financial flows and lack of transparency in the management of public wealth, particularly in the extractive sector.
The veteran lawyer also addressed the ongoing crisis in Cameroon's North West and South West regions, describing it as a serious challenge to the rule of law. He pointed to the thousands of lives lost, mass displacement, and disruption of education since the conflict began in 2016.
He praised lawyers in the conflict-affected regions for continuing to provide legal services under difficult conditions and called for greater access to justice for vulnerable citizens.
As part of that effort, Akere Muna announced his support for a proposed pro bono legal centre in Bamenda that would provide free legal assistance to those unable to afford representation.
Addressing younger lawyers, he urged them to resist corruption, protect their independence, and place integrity above personal gain. "Do not mistake access to power for professional achievement," he said. "Your greatest asset will always be your credibility."
Wrapping up his address, the international legal guru argued that the future of the legal profession depends on lawyers combining legal expertise with moral character and a commitment to society. "The lawyer gives competence, character gives credibility, and citizenship gives purpose," he said. "Only by bringing all three together can the profession remain worthy of public trust."
@Laarry Times
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