Teddy Nguema, the vice president of Equatorial Guinea, has declared his intention to equip every state agency office with security cameras.
This broad action is a component of a continuous endeavour to guarantee rigorous compliance with public service regulations and combat misconduct among officials.
Baltasar Engonga, the director general of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency, was detained for reportedly recording more than 400 sex videos of prominent national figures’ wives.
The incident started when ANIF officials conducted an unexpected search of the 54-year-old Economist’s home and office as part of a fraud probe. They discovered many CDs that eventually exposed his sexcapades with various married women.
The CCTV initiative, unveiled in an X post on Tuesday, according to him, underscored the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour,” it read.
The goal of the new surveillance strategy is to discourage acts that would jeopardise public trust and the ethical standards that are required of public employees.
Authorities have made it apparent that there would be harsh consequences for any infraction that is captured on video.
“We will not admit any fault that denigrates the integrity of our administration, and those who engage in these practices will face drastic measures,” it continued.
Although the government has highlighted that this act is essential for fostering an environment of accountability, public sector workers and human rights advocates have had differing opinions about the policy.
Some officials view it as a positive step towards reform, while others raise concerns about potential privacy implications.
The timeline for the complete rollout and the exact scope of surveillance have yet to be detailed.
However, the government has assured that the initiative aligns with existing legal frameworks aimed at strengthening governance and safeguarding public resources.
The VP noted that the installation of surveillance systems in state offices signals a resolute stand against corruption and misconduct, marking a pivotal step in fostering an atmosphere of transparency and trust within public service.
“The government will soon implement the installation of surveillance cameras in all offices of state bodies. We have taken this measure to ensure compliance with the law on public officials and to eradicate improper and illicit behaviour. We will not admit any fault that denigrates the integrity of our administration and those who engage in these practices will face drastic measures,” the post translated from Spanish by Google Translate read.
Earlier, the VP on Monday announced that the government will immediately suspend any officials involved in sexual relations within ministry offices, as it violates the Code of Conduct and Public Ethics Law.
This decisive action, he said, reinforces a zero-tolerance policy towards behaviour that undermines public service integrity.
“Today, we will proceed with the immediate suspension of all officials who have had sexual relations in the offices of the country’s ministries.
“The government will take severe measures against these acts since they constitute a flagrant violation of the Code of Conduct and the Public Ethics Law.
“This action is a decisive step in our policy of zero tolerance towards behaviours that undermine the integrity of the public service.
“Ethics and respect are fundamental in our administration, and we will not allow irresponsible behaviour to compromise public trust.
“Responsibility and professionalism must be the pillars of our work as servants of the state.”
