CAMEROON : According to GECAM, the “ghost town” days cost the tax authorities more than CFA 43 billion

(LVDE) — A survey by the Cameroon Employers’ Association (GECAM) highlights the scale of the economic damage caused by the post-election tensions of October 2025. In less than a month, the State recorded a fiscal shortfall of CFA 43.3 billion, while many businesses are still struggling to recover.

In the deserted streets of Douala, Yaoundé, and several major cities, economic activity came to an abrupt halt during the so-called “ghost town” days. This slowdown, which followed the presidential election of October 12, 2025 and the sensitive period preceding the announcement of the results, has left deep scars on public finances. GECAM’s Evaluation and Advocacy Report is unequivocal: in under a month, the public treasury lost CFA 43.3 billion in tax revenue.

At the heart of this poor performance lies the real inability of many companies to meet their obligations. The study indicates that 43.9% of the firms surveyed acknowledge that the crisis undermined their capacity to comply with tax commitments. Payment delays, potential defaults, and cash-flow pressures have become the daily reality for nearly one in two companies, revealing structural vulnerabilities aggravated by the context.

Value Added Tax (VAT), the main driver of consumption-based revenue, accounts for the bulk of the losses, with CFA 38.9 billion uncollected. This figure reflects both the collapse in commercial transactions and the decline in household purchasing power during the period of paralysis. Added to this is a shortfall of CFA 4.4 billion in corporate income tax advance payments, signaling an overall contraction in business turnover.

On the ground, the impact varies by sector. Productive activities appear to be the most exposed, with more than half of companies in difficulty. The construction and public works sector has been hit hardest: the suspension of projects left nearly 86% of firms in the sector unable to meet their tax obligations. Industry follows a similar trend, while agriculture shows relatively greater resilience. Transport and trade are also under strong pressure, unlike banking and insurance, which demonstrate notable stability.

In response, the Cameroonian business community has put forward several proposals. These include faster VAT credit refunds, simplification of customs procedures, an end to certain double taxation practices, and a reduction in administrative pressure. For productive enterprises, GECAM advocates a genuine fiscal breathing space in 2026, combined with financial facilities and lighter inspection regimes.

The organization, led by Célestin Tawamba, specifies that its analysis focuses on the critical period from October 26 to November 5, 2025, without taking into account subsequent economic developments. A methodological choice that does not diminish the weight of this warning signal: beyond political debate, stability remains a central issue for business survival and the balance of public finances.

Esther Grace