The Search for a Culture of Bribery in Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: This paper addresses systematic corruption in Cameroon. Based on the literature review and a previous study, the research question was "does a culture of bribery exist in Cameroon, and what are its predictors? Method and materials: Data for this study was collected by the Afrobarometer project from 1,200 Cameroonian respondents Based on self-reported data, the research attempted to determine the volume of bribes paid by respondents to receive public services. Results: Overall, the findings revealed the existence of a culture of bribery in Cameroon; forty-five percent of the respondents reported paying bribes within the last year and 30 percent reported paying two or more bribes in that same time period. Logistical regression analysis revealed that 7 variables were significant predictors of payment of bribes. Being the victim of a property crime was the strongest predictor, which, in turn, drew attention to the role of the police in Cameroon's bribery culture.