While some preach patriotism, others frown at the long and costly procedures for setting up business.

Cameroonians wishing to set up businesses in the country have on more than one occasion complained of the not-so-healthy business climate and pointed accusing fingers at vices like administrative bottlenecks, corruption, impunity, among others which have left government almost always on a begging end irrespective of the country's potentials. Recurrent international ratings in areas like setting up a business in the country, dealing with construction permits, employing workers, registering property, getting credit and protecting investors, among others, have often given the country a below-average score.

Nationals likened the phenomenon to corruption which many have described as a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the country's system. In more than one occasion, Cameroon has bagged the unenviable first spot, according to Transparency International as the first corrupt country on their list. Setting up business requires shuttling from one office and procedure to the other and in so doing, breeding corruption, described variously as a destroyer as many who cannot afford to wait for long are forced to buy their ways through. Reason why proposals from the private sector in the country at the end of last month's Cameroon Business Forum centred among others on the introduction of the one-stop-shop system for business creation.

As this is not enough, energy, an indispensable tool for investment in most sectors is still limping in the country. While most parts of the country do not have energy supply, those already blessed with the commodity suffer intermittent cuts that might not only disrupt the functioning of companies, if they existed, but could as well destroy certain products whose existence depend on energy.

Again, the transport infrastructure in the country leaves much to desire. While roads are inexistent in some parts of the country, other areas can boasts only of it on seasonal basis. Until the Kribi and Limbe deep seaports would be completed to curb the deficit in maritime transport, the country has only the Douala seaport that is everything but deep to boast of, making some companies that would have loved to import some heavy equipment to facilitate investments in certain sectors of the economy to chicken out. But others are ready to brave the hurdles and invest in the country just for love of the fatherland.

These problems, coupled with complaints of numerous and heavy taxes appear to near their end given renewed government efforts to cleanse the country's hitherto shabby investment environment. Several infrastructural projects have been announced in both the energy and transport sectors as well as innovations in the country's taxation, which officials say are not unconnected with relentless efforts to attract investors.