Corruption: Biya should match words with action!.

President Paul Biya, for those who know him, is said to be a man of his words. He is legalistic and keeps his promises with the experience of magnanimity.

Over the years, he has made promises to fight corruption, which remains an impediment to socio-economic development, and those who flaunt the illicit wealth with impunity and provocation could inadvertently be encouraging a public outrage as punishing cost of living aggravates.

In his end-of-year speech to the nation on December 31, 2022, Biya said: “Last year, in similar circumstances, I talked about the need to strengthen governance in the management of public affairs and to control government spending. Rest assured that this concern is constant and unwavering. I also want to reiterate that those who are illicitly amassing wealth by plundering the State, at whatever level, will be brought to book”.

One of the most stupendous corruption scandals in his regime, with international ramifications, has been the construction of the Olembe Sports Complex. Beginning from the award of the contract when Cameroon won the hosting bid in 2014 to 2022 when the African Cup of Nations, which the facility was the star attraction, kicked off, allegations of corruption have been made in the media by articulate critics at every stage.

Last week, two outspoken Members of Parliament from different opposition parties reminded President Biya that those who are reported to have embezzled money meant for the project through inflated billings or other criminal subterfuges, should be brought to book.

As this daily reported on Friday, Hon Jean-Michel Nintcheu, in a press release issued January 11, raised a series of issues related to irregularities surrounding the sports facility. He emphatically stated that government must answer questions concerning the mismanagement of funds meant for the finalisation of the project.

Hon Nintcheu claimed one of the ministers implicated spread “false information” on the advancement of work at the Olembe Sports Complex and categorically called on the Head of State to dismiss all ministers who were in charge of managing the funds related to Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON.

The outspoken MP said any laxity on the part of the President of the Republic concerning the scandal will rather give the impression that he knows more about the project.

In his reaction on his official Facebook page, Hon Cabra Libii, called on the Head of State to arrest all those believed to have diverted state funds to their private accounts. The MP described developments related to the sports facility as the “most spectacular financial scandal” that has rocked the country in the last decade.

“My God! What have we done to deserve this?” the opposition politician exclaimed while announcing a special live outing to denounce the scandal.

“Let's demand their arrest and register massively on the electoral lists. I will go into detail about the key moments that led to the wreckage we see today around the Olembe Sports Complex,” he told his followers.

“The President of the Republic must crack down and we must clear out these prevaricators with our ballot. It is time...,” he added.

The scandals go beyond using the ballot. The construction of Olembe Sports Complex has been infested with scandals. First, the contract of 163 billion FCFA was awarded without an international tender to an Italian firm. The Italians were later sacked and replaced by the Canadians. While there was criticism that the amount was too high, compared to identical jobs that have been carried out in some African countries like Ivory Coast, for instance, Unity Palace asked for additional funding to complete the facility.

Despite criticism from some opposition leaders who said there was lack of transparency in the contract, two other loans were granted to complete the contract.     Documents published by the National Sinking Fund CAA and available in the social media indicate that the first loan for 55.17 billion FCFA was from Standard Chartered Bank following an agreement signed on June 17, 2021.

The second loan of 6.3 billion FCFA was granted by CCA Bank on March 23, 2021, and disbursed the same month to complete the construction of the sports complex.

According to Business in Cameroon, the loans brought the total cost to a whopping 187 billion FCFA, which exceeded the project’s initial cost. Yet, there were reports in the media that the complex was not even completed when AFCON started.

There is no question that there is a smoking gun within the Olembe Sports Complex and the two honourable Members of Parliament are not just raising alarm that there is smoke without fire. Some ministers, like in the case of the COVID-19 fund scandals, are known to have been implicated in both cases.

For President Biya to put teeth in his bark, and action in his words as he promised in his end-of-year speech, he should reshuffle his government and let those to whom accusing fingers are pointing at, to face the excruciating sword of justice.