BAR CANDIDATES PROTEST AGAINST RAISE IN EXAM FEE

Candidates for the Cameroon Bar exam, have expressed their indignation at a possible scam orchestrated by the Cameroon Bar Association. The controversy was triggered by the decision of the Bar Council to impose additional fees on candidates for the Bar admission examination, initiated by order of the Minister of Justice, Laurent Esso.

According to the conditions of participation set out in this recent decree regarding the exam fee of Bar exams, in addition to compiling applications, candidates are required to pay a registration fee of 10,000 FCFA. However, a recent meeting of the  Council took a decision that has caused an outrage: candidates will now have to pay an additional fee of 50,000 FCFA, broken down as follows: 30,000 FCFA to cover the costs of the examination and 20,000 FCFA for voluntary participation in a seminar relating to the examination. This decision has triggered a wave of protests among candidates, who are questioning the legality of this measure. Candidates point out that the terms and conditions of the examination are clearly set out in a decree issued by the Minister of Justice, and any additional fees not provided for in these regulations are considered to be a flagrant violation of the law.

Some candidates are wondering how an institution made up of legal specialists can so blatantly breach the rules laid down by the Ministry of Justice. They believe that this arbitrary decision sets a worrying precedent and undermines candidates’ confidence in the integrity of the examination process.

In the face of these allegations, there are calls for immediate clarification from the Ministry of Justice and a review of this controversial decision by the Bar Council. The candidates are demanding transparency and fairness in the process of accessing the legal traineeship, stressing that any unjustified financial hindrance is unacceptable at a time when access to the profession must be open to all legal talent.

This case raises crucial questions about the ethics and legality of administrative practices within the Cameroon Bar Association, and the Ministry of Justice is expected to take appropriate measures to restore the confidence of candidates and preserve the integrity of the bar admission process.

Delia Nyadi