Minister Atanga Nji Advises Unregistered Churches To Close Down

Any church operating in Cameroon without registration should shut down, the territorial administration minister Atanga Nji has said.

Minister Atanga Nji stated that there are so many churches operating in Cameroon without any license. To him, only President Paul Biya has the prerogative to authorise a church operation in the country.

He was speaking during a press conference held in Yaoundé on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

The minister intimated that churches are receiving money from doubtful sources and funding activities that are not authorised by the state.

He did not only end at churches but also political parties. The minister Atanga Nji warned that any association that receives money and ends in a political party will face consequences.

Minat Boss condemned the works of NGOs and associations and said churches without a decree from the head of state should close before he stretches to them.

Minister Atanga Nji Says Break Time is Over for Administrative Tolerance

The press conference was also aimed at shedding light on the recent suspension of NGO activities in the country. To him, there is a lot of illegal funding of NGOs and associations.

He said NGOs were violating rules governing the sector. According to him, administrative tolerance will no longer apply. “Break time is over. We cannot continue like that, he said.

He has ordered until January 30, 2025, for NGOs to comply with the rule. “They must send us their report for the past two or three years.” That report, he says, must be backed by evidence of financial spending. He accused them of receiving money above the limit of declaration and remaining silent.

“As from now, any money received will be properly justified,” he said. According to him, NGOs are supposed to declare to the ministry every amount above 500,000 FCFA. “Yet they receive hundreds and even billions.”

“All those NGOs and associations must abide by the rules and regulations,” he stated. “From now henceforth, if you receive more than 500,000 FCFA, we blacklist you and you face the consequences.”

Minister Atanga Nji accuses them of money laundering

“We have to put in place strict measures against money laundering and financing of terrorism,” he said.

The minister believed that funders and NGOs need sensitisation on regulations governing the sector.

“We have all the legal instruments to fight against money laundering and financing of terrorism.” The essence, he said, is to protect Cameroonian businesses to work with other countries very well. He believes that the law needs to be implemented in the interest of Cameroon.

As of now, NGOs must have an identification paper of the person funding them. He said money should not be coming from drug dealers or human traffickers. You cannot use money coming from a criminal source to aid an NGO in Cameroon.

Suspension of NGOs not tie with public liberties, says Minat Boss

Two days ago, he suspended five NGOs and banned some for illegal activities. He claimed they have received funds of over 16 billion FCFA, and there is no explanation of what has been done with it. To Atanga Nji, that is suspicious.

Despite what people say about clamping down on public liberties, he said the ministry puts an end to administrative tolerance.

According to him, he received a report from a national financial investigation. After examination, they released the money that was not in line with the activities of the NGOs. So, they had to suspend the NGO. As much as the government has facilitated the creation of NGOs and associations, they must respect the law.

According to him, RHEDAC, which was one of the associations suspended, should not even receive a franc from foreign bodies. Money can only come from members.

After the investigation that MINAT has launched, the suspended NGOs will receive MINAT’s decision.