Paternity testing in Cameroon... growing prevalence threatens society
For 12 years, a man thought a girl was his daughter.
Written by: Ayman Ragab
Paternity tests in Cameroon have seen a growing spread recently, after being considered an unusual practice for local customs, with an increasing number of men eager to confirm the paternity of children born to their partners, despite the criticisms these tests face.
Some Cameroonians are no longer content with just being informed that a new baby is on the way. They are now ensuring they accompany their partners from the first prenatal check-ups through childbirth, before resorting to paternity tests to confirm the child's lineage.
This practice is spread among couples living together, as well as among officially married couples according to the provisions of Cameroonian civil law.
Different reasons
The motivations for undergoing these tests vary from person to person, but they are united by a single goal: to avoid being deceived about the paternity of children.
“Women have become more cunning; in case of pregnancy, some attribute paternity to several men to get money, so I decided to verify everything. I am ready to take the necessary legal action for breach of trust and fraud against anyone who dares to deceive me,” said Georges Ibanda, a resident of Tsinga neighborhood in the capital, Yaounde, according to 360.
“In the Bastos neighborhood, one person recounted his experience, saying: ”I lived for twelve years with a child I thought was my daughter, and one day her mother took her and returned her to her real father. I swear I almost had an attack of rage, and for that reason I decided to conduct paternity tests for every child attributed to me.'"
Widespread rejection
Despite the increasing demand for paternity tests, they still face rejection from a segment of Cameroonians who consider them a Western practice that conflicts with traditional African values, which view a child as belonging to the entire community, not just their parents.
And according to this perception, every newborn within the family is seen as a source of pride, even if the pregnancy occurs outside of marriage or without the husband's consent.
