The Production Process of Gold Mining, Corruption, Weak Regulatory Institutions, and Development in Cameroon

Abstract

Gold mining in Cameroon presents a paradox of geological abundance coexisting with persistent governance failures. Despite significant deposits in the East, Adamawa, and South regions, the sector contributes minimally to national development due to entrenched corruption, regulatory fragmentation, and pervasive illicit financial flows. This article examines the scale, drivers, and implications of gold export discrepancies between Cameroon’s official declarations and partner-country import records from 2021 to 2025. Using mirror-trade analysis, the study identifies a cumulative discrepancy of 44.26 tons—equivalent to CFAF 1.94 trillion in domestic valuation and USD 2.87 billion at global market prices. These discrepancies indicate that more than 95 percent of Cameroon’s gold output exits the country through informal or illicit channels. The article integrates resource curse theory, rent-seeking and neopatrimonialism, and institutional theories to explain the persistence of governance failures in the sector. Findings reveal systemic weaknesses in regulatory enforcement, supply-chain traceability, and inter-agency coordination, exacerbated by semi-mechanized mining operations dominated by foreign actors. The study concludes with policy recommendations aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing fiscal transparency, and aligning national regulations with international due-diligence standards. The analysis contributes to broader debates on natural resource governance, illicit financial flows, and public finance sustainability in sub-Saharan Africa.