The Bishop of Buea Diocese has condemned the mismanagement of funds meant to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country by some state authorities. His Lordship Michael Bibi’s reactions were captured in an interview he granted Crux, a catholic website.
His Lordship Michael Bibi, Bishop of Buea Diocese
“I really felt bad that within a period like this when most people, most governments are trying to look for ways and means of combating COVID 19 disease – a virus that is killing and taking away the lives of many people – that people will still have the audacity to embezzle funds of this nature, that is meant for the common good, that is meant to save the lives of people,” said Bibi.
The prelate further stated: “To say the least, this is inhuman. It is not correct, and I think that the Cameroonian government should do proper investigation and the people who are responsible should be brought to justice. We cannot allow things like this to go ahead because it is not proper. Humanly speaking, it is bad”.
“Corruption thrives when there is little follow up to bring the culprits to justice…corruption is something that is common and I think that we all have to fight against corruption; we all have to educate ourselves that whatever position we have in the Church, in the government, and if we have funds that are given to us for the common good, we should use it for the common good,” Bibi said.
“We should not think about our individual benefits or what is going to benefit our family members and friends, we should think about the common good. For me I think that is key, and my prayer and wish is that we should be converted from this attitude of corruption, because if we are not converted, the country will never develop, things will never move properly,” Bibi said.
A recent report presented during the May cabinet meeting by Public Health Minister Manaouda Malachie indicates that Cameroon, over 78 929 cases of COVID have already been recorded with 1275 deaths, 73 974 people cured with (1.6%) fatality rate and a cure rate of 93.3% while over 60 000 people already been vaccinated.
Government authorities have come under scathing criticism with alleged embezzlement of funds meant to roll back the virus. Results of investigations ordered by the Presidency have left many ministers packing with others making last minute frantic efforts to justify funds allocate their respective ministries to help fight the virus.
Opposition politicians, members of the civil society, both national and international NGOs and foreign bodies have raised worries relating to the transparent of funds meant for the virus. Partial reports said to be from the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court making rounds on the social media and reported by several media organs indicates gross overbilling of personal protective equipment said to have been purchased by some ministries as well as the no respect public bidding for contracts.
“The conditions under which the special contracts were awarded remain unknown to the Audit Bench of the Supreme Court, which reflects a certain opacity in the awarding of contracts, and which affected most of the contracts,” stated part of the report which faulted the ministries of Public Health and that of Scientific Research and Innovation of 30 management errors.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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