By T. Ndip Reicthman Esq.
libra law office. President and founder of the Environmental Compendium Association
A legal practitioner, Barrister Ndip Reicthman, has been championing the fight against the pollution of freshwater resources, rivers, lakes, groundwater and reservoirs, are indispensable to human survival, public health and sustainable development.
Barrister Ndip Ndip Reicthman Esq. of Libra Law Office, holds that, across Cameroon and globally, these resources face growing threats from pollution and over-exploitation.
“Preventing freshwater pollution is therefore not only an environmental concern, but also a legal, social and human rights obligation,” he states.
On January 24, 2026, the Environmental Compendium Association, ECA,led by Barrister Ndip, in collaboration with sister organizations, carried out the 4th edition of the Ndongo River Clean-Up Campaign near the University of Buea. Alongside the clean-up, a survey of 50 residents living along a 300-metre stretch of the river revealed the depth of the problem and its human impact.
Internationally, well-established principles governing the protection of freshwater resources have been adopted – many reflecting customary international law. A declaration from the Environmental Compendium Association, states: “This is particularly important, given that nearly half of the world’s river basins are shared by two or more States. Although freshwater constitutes only about three percent of the Earth’s total water, it supplies the vast majority of water used for human activity. Pollution of these shared resources therefore has consequences that transcend political boundaries.”
It remarks that the Ndongo River findings reflect the broader global crisis. The survey showed that 57 percent of residents along the river are students, highlighting how environmental degradation directly affects young populations. Due to the absence of adequate waste disposal alternatives, 62.5 percent of respondents dispose of waste on land near the river, where it is eventually washed into the watercourse. The dominant waste types were household refuse, particularly plastics, nylons, plastic bottles and broken glass.
The statement warns that the current threats to freshwater resources stem from rising water demand and declining water quality caused by human activity. Industrial and agricultural pollution, rapid population growth and unregulated urbanization have intensified pressure on water systems. At Ndongo, accumulated plastics and glass not only contaminate the water and endanger aquatic life, but also block drainage channels, exacerbating flooding risks and creating unsafe living conditions for surrounding communities.
In Cameroon, the situation is especially visible at the local level. The direct discharge of municipal and household waste into River Ndongo has degraded water quality and increased public health risks. Alarmingly, 37.5 per cent of surveyed residents reported suffering from water-related diseases, while many continue to rely on the river for household use due to water scarcity. This underscores that access to clean water remains a fundamental human right, yet one that is still unrealized for many.
Environmental law recognizes that pollution knows no boundaries. Waste unlawfully discharged into River Ndongo does not only affect nearby communities such as Mutengene, but may also travel through interconnected river systems, potentially impacting coastal waters and neighboring countries like Nigeria. This is why legal prohibitions against dumping waste into rivers are designed both to protect freshwater quality and prevent marine pollution.
Young persons engaged by ECA gathering plastic bottles to clean river banks
It notes that Cameroon has enacted several legal instruments regulating waste management and freshwater protection. Law No. 96/12 on Environmental Management expressly prohibits the pollution of water resources under Article 74, while Decree No. 2001/1041/PM regulates waste management and forbids dumping in water bodies. Offenders face fines and possible imprisonment under Article 87 of Law No. 96/12. Encouragingly, the Ndongo survey found that 68.7 percent of residents are aware of the environmental consequences of dumping, and 62.5 percent understand the legal implications, yet enforcement gaps persist.
These findings highlight the urgent need for improved waste management infrastructure and stronger enforcement of environmental regulations, not only against individuals, but also against institutions mandated to manage waste in Buea and other parts of Cameroon. Local councils, waste management agencies such as HYSACAM, and regulatory authorities all bear responsibility under the law.
Effective enforcement, combined with sustained public awareness and community-driven initiatives like the Ndongo River Clean-Up Campaign, remains essential. Protecting freshwater resources is a shared responsibility, vital for present and future generations, central to environmental justice, and indispensable to sustainable development in Cameroon and beyond.