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Cameroon: U.S. Embassy Combats Visa Fraud
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The Post (Buea)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Edith Wirdze
The US Embassy has embarked on a fight against fraudulent documents that tarnish the credibility of national documents and further complicates the issuing of visas.
According to the Chief of the Consular Section of the US Embassy, William Swaney, about 30 out of every 100 files deposited at the Embassy for visas are made up of fraudulent documents.
It is in this regard that the US Embassy has donated computer systems to some councils to enable them control civil documents that are not authentic.Swaney said the fight against fraudulent documents is necessary because the Consular Section at the US Embassy relies on the authenticity of civil documents for the verification of visa applicants' status.
He indicated that the Embassy is extremely interested in reform plans and efforts to eradicate fraudulent documents as well as the trade in them. According to him, it is the Embassy's wish that civil document administration at all levels continue refining the work already begun around the country and inquire into the state of code enforcement with the legally created civil status registration centres.
On her part, the US Ambassador to Cameroon, Janet Garvey, said the objective of the offer is to help councils improve on the quality of civil documents.She hoped that the aid advances the ability to process records electronically and allows the councils to move closer to record verification through a national registry system.
This, she said, has a sizable impact on the overall reputation of the country in the international community. She cautioned that where false identities are easy to create, there is a proliferation of criminal activity such as drug trafficking, money laundering and terrorism. Moreover, dangerous people can easily create a new name or persona which allows them to avoid detection.
Garvey added that the phenomenon of ghost workers that drains the Cameroon treasury is tied to identity fraud. She said the Embassy devotes a lot of time on issues of good governance and corruption in order to improve on human rights and the integrity of all.
The Embassy in partnership with the US-based NGO, Technology Outreach Partners and the Montgomery County School System of Maryland, donated five computer systems, one to each selected council for their own use.
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The councils that benefited include; the Bamenda Urban Council, Douala I Urban Council, Buea Rural Council, Bafoussam I Council and Yaounde I Urban Council.The US Embassy hopes to extend the aid to other councils.
THE AMERICANS ARE NOT SERIOUS, THIS COUNTRY IS A FRANCAFRIQUE COUNTRY, AND LIKE ANY OTHER FRENCH COLONY.
CORRUPTION, INCOMPETENCE AND FRAUD IS THE TRADE MARK.
FROM THEIR HEAD MAN, BIYA TO THE COP ON THE STREET. SOO IF THE AMERICANS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CORRUPTION, THEY SHOULD USE THE BIG STICK AND KICK OUT THE NEW KING OF CAMEROUN. FOR HIS IS THE CHIEFAND ARCHITECT OF FRAUD, AND... [Read Full Text]
SCNC is nonsense.It's a group of ten dreamers.Cameroon is one.The u s initiative is an excellent thing to put pressure on Biya's regime to fight corruption.
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