Red Alert for Dubious Contractors in Momo Division

Contractors fun of playing hanky-panky with state funds in the execution of public contracts in Momo division will henceforth have it hot with members of the participatory committee for the follow-up of government sponsored projects in the division. The decision to now begin talking through (court) action not words again was arrived at during their 4th quarterly meeting that took place on Wednesday 11 January 2023 in the conference hall of the Momo Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT.

In her welcome address, the committee president, Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi told her collaborators "Our main objective here is transparency, provide information to the beneficiary population, ensure respect of the contract terms and collect comments on the qualitative and quantitative realisation of projects executed in the past years." She however regretted that unfortunately, they've not been able to register a 100% success story though their past results of 75 and 85% physical and financial realisation respectively are better but far behind when compared with other divisions in the region.

Committee Members in Session

The Executive Bureau of the Committee

In evaluating the realisation of 2021/2022 projects, it was observed that the ongoing crisis and bad fate of some contractors has kept dragging the division behind and further worsened by the malpractice where some recalcitrant contractors have been noted for always being quick to collect money for no work done. "Through our collective efforts, we have to bounce back" said the committee president to her collaborators. "The population of Momo needs an improvement on their living standards and we have the responsibility to do so through the work we do here" she added.

For over three years now, a project for the rural electrification of Bessi Fomukong village from G.R.A Mbengwi is yet to be realised though records show that money had supposedly changed hands. During several follow-up meetings, this particular project has always been made mention of. From latest information that was disclosed to the committee members, the contractor has been booked and is now being compelled to must effectively realise the project as all eyes are on him from the beneficiary population to the top ranks of the subdivision. Assurances were given that everything being equal, between April and June 2023, Bessi Fomukong should be having light, following legal measures taken against the contractor.

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia, President of the Follow-up Committee Chairing the Meeting

Stakeholders

The stumbling blocks against the development of Momo division are not only mounted by some contractors but as well as some stakeholders. A case in point that was cited was the repeated absence of the divisional finance controller from all follow-up meetings without any excuse. Cases of contractors collecting money for no work done have been recurrent in the division and committee members always want to know the game played for such dubious financial deals to be effectuated yet the person in charge of giving explanations on the bone of contention is never there.

Faced with this setback that's more worrisome taking into consideration that the concerned is a son of the soil and motivated by the desire not to stagnate  the developmental progress of the division, it was suggested that if by the next meeting he doesn't show up, then a motion will be moved for him to be sacked and replaced with someone who's ready to work. "Collaboration is expected from all of us so that obstacles become stepping stones on which we bounce to higher heights of achievements" said the committee president.

Mayor Andoh Stanislaus Tambu of Widikum Council Attending the Meeting for the First Time 

Family Photo at End of Meeting

One major project that got attendees wagging tongues at length about was the World Bank sponsored Social Safety Net Project meant at raising the statues of the less privileged. While execution was successful in other municipalities, in Mbengwi, cases of fraud, bribery, favouritism, scores settling and other mischievous practices hampered its smooth execution. It took the intervention of high authorities of the subdivision for all the lapses to be sorted out and the real beneficiaries, about 1.000 in number given their due. The mayor of the Mbengwi Council, Ndangsa Kennedy Akam assured all that order has been restored as far as the Safety Net project is concerned. 

Another project that has repeatedly been talked about during every such meeting is the slaughter house in G.R.A Mbengwi that was constructed by the past mayor, Tebe Beatrice and has till date never been put to use. The butchers have persistently been resisting going to make use of the new slaughter house despite the nasty state of the old site around Checkpoint where they've continued to slaughter cows there. The resolution arrived at on this subject matter was that veterinary officers should stop inspecting meat at the old site, that an inspection roster be drawn for the new slaughter house and that before doing all these, a sensitisation meeting has to first be held with the butchers. Will the next follow up meeting not still hold with the new slaughter house not still being used remains the million dollar question.

Statistics from the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT

Statistics from the Divisional Delegation of MINEPAT

At the close of the meeting, a major setback to the smooth functioning of schools in Mbengwi was reported with the case study being the newly constructed primary school behind the gendarmerie brigade. Said to have close to 400 pupils, a tussle of authority between some state functionaries resulted to many teachers being pulled out of the school on basis that only those of practicing schools have to teach there. Non practicing school teachers are said to have been withdrawn from the school and supposedly posted to work in G.S Dom, Chup and other enclaved schools but in reality, the said teachers don't even know thevlicatuon of the said schools not to talk of ever stepping foot there. The Divisional Delegate of Basic Education for Momo was in effect tasked to restore order amongst the teachers. 

Lastly, it was also resolved that all schools that had relocated due to the crisis must return to their permanent sites next academic year considering that peace now reigns right in the suburbs. Such include the Ku Bome Fish Breeding Station, G.T.T.C (ENIEG) and G.T.T.T.C (ENIET) Mbengwi that have for the past years been operating in Bamenda same as G.T.H.S Mbengwi now functioning at SAR/SM Mbengwi instead of its real site in Njindom. 

Statistics furnished Mbengwi Online by the Momo Divisional Delegate of MINEPAT indicate that in 2022, Momo Division had a total of 61 projects worth 1.450.115.000FCFA and as of 11 January 2023, 33 have been completed, 2 not started and 26 ongoing, giving a financial execution rate of 85.7% and 85.73% physical. Going by council rankings, in terms of physical execution, Batibo is first, followed by Widikum, then Mbengwi, Njikwa and Andek while in terms of financial execution, Mbengwi is first, Andek second, Widikum third, Njikwa fourth and Batibo fifth.