By Andrew Nsoseka
Cameroon’s President, Paul Biya, has come under renewed criticism following a fresh wave of presidential decrees authorizing new religious bodies, at a time when many citizens say the country is in dire need of tangible development projects rather than more places of worship.
In a series of posts published on his official Facebook the Head of State announced the approval of several churches, adding to an already saturated religious landscape across the country. The newly authorized bodies include Winners Chapel International, Eglise Évangélique Libre du Cameroun, Mission Chrétienne de l’Espérance – Maison de Prière, Chapelle de la Gloire du Christ, Reformed Overcomers Chapel, The Redeemed Christian Church of God / Église Chrétienne Rachetée de Dieu, Communauté Missionnaire Chrétienne Internationale, and the Eglise Orthodoxe Russe du Cameroun.
While the decrees have been welcomed by leaders and followers of the respective denominations, they have also reignited a long-standing national debate over the government’s priorities. Critics argue that Cameroon, grappling with crumbling infrastructure, poor road networks, underfunded hospitals, youth unemployment and a struggling education system, requires more investment in development projects than the continuous legalization of new churches.
Pan-Africanists and social commentators have been particularly vocal, accusing politicians of subtly encouraging the proliferation of churches as a convenient distraction from governance failures. According to them, the steady rise of religious institutions has fostered a culture where citizens are increasingly encouraged to “pray” for solutions to problems that should ordinarily be addressed through public policy and effective leadership.
Health professionals have also raised alarm over practices in some churches where followers are reportedly discouraged from seeking medical treatment, even in serious cases, and are instead urged to rely solely on prayer and so-called spiritual healing. Such trends, they warn, pose a significant public health risk in a country already struggling with limited healthcare infrastructure.
Beyond ideological concerns, the physical impact of the growing number of churches is increasingly being felt in residential neighborhoods. In many urban and semi-urban areas, residents complain of nightly noise pollution as churches roll out large speakers for overnight prayers, vigils and what they describe as spiritual deliverance sessions. The disturbances, often stretching into the early hours of the morning, have become a major source of tension between worship centers and surrounding communities.
Despite these criticisms, the government has continued to insist on freedom of worship as a constitutional right. However, opponents argue that freedom of religion should not come at the expense of public order, health, and the state’s responsibility to deliver basic services.
As Cameroon navigates mounting economic and social challenges, many citizens are questioning whether the steady stream of decrees authorizing new churches reflects the country’s most urgent needs, or whether it underscores a deeper governance gap where faith is increasingly filling the void left by absent development.
