In response to a high-profile scandal, Equatorial Guinea’s Vice President, Teddy Nguema, has announced plans to install surveillance cameras across all government offices. The initiative is intended to ensure compliance with public service laws and curb misconduct among officials.
The move follows the recent arrest of Baltasar Engonga, Director General of the National Financial Investigation Agency, who was implicated in a scandal involving over 400 illicit recordings. During a surprise search of his home and office, investigators reportedly discovered CDs revealing Engonga’s secret recordings with the wives of prominent individuals. The discovery emerged during a fraud investigation against the 54-year-old economist, bringing to light his alleged misuse of authority and public trust.
To restore accountability, the Vice President’s office stated, “We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour.” The government has made it clear that any misconduct caught on camera will be met with severe repercussions.
Nguema emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards unethical behaviour, vowing to suspend any officials immediately found engaging in sexual relations within government offices. “Today, we will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries,” he said, describing such actions as a direct violation of the Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law.
Public reaction to the sweeping CCTV plan has been mixed. While some officials see it as necessary to foster accountability, others have raised privacy concerns. Nevertheless, authorities are confident that the measure aligns with the legal framework and will help protect public resources and governance integrity.
“The government will not allow irresponsible behaviour to compromise public trust. Ethics and respect are fundamental in our administration, and we will not admit any fault that denigrates the integrity of our administration,” Nguema’s statement read.
The timeline for the surveillance rollout is yet to be detailed, but officials remain optimistic that this decisive step will enhance transparency and reinforce public confidence in Equatorial Guinea’s institutions.
