Cameroon should compel large mining corporations to partner directly with local artisanal miners as part of an innovative strategy to reclaim billions of Dollars lost to tax evasion and gold smuggling.

That is the view of Political Economist Kevin Tutani, who argues that the country finds itself at a critical crossroads. He believes that the state’s ongoing tax recovery operation can only succeed long-term if it balances enforcement with creative formalisation strategies that bring informal miners into the mainstream economy.

According to Tutani, the government should identify gold-rich areas currently dominated by informal, artisanal operations and introduce large corporate players to take over the rights. These rights would then be legally distributed between the corporation and key influential figures on the artisanal side, creating a well-capitalised, formal organisation.

“In terms of regulation, the country has to make it easier for people to formally register as gold miners, perhaps gold processors,” Tutani stated. “The prices for getting the licences have to be affordable and accessible. The procedures to get them have to be easy as well.”

However, Tutani warned that making formalisation accessible must be backed by uncompromisingly harsh penalties for those who continue to operate outside the law.

“The punitive measures for smuggling gold and other misdemeanours that have to do with gold, they have to be extreme; they have to be really harsh,” Tutani emphasised. “For instance, if someone has been found trying to smuggle it, perhaps three years in prison. So, the gateway to formalisation has to be made really easy.”

The call for reform comes as Cameroon launches a major enforcement operation aimed at improving tax compliance, strengthening oversight of mining activities, and ensuring the country’s mineral resources generate greater benefits for the local economy.

–ChannelAfrica–