Olive Ejang Tebug Ngoh
4 April 2008
Handicapped people, orphans, NGOs and other vulnerable groups in Kumba have not benefited from the money and other items worth FCFA 7 million, which Social Affairs Minister, Catherine Bakang Mbock, had allocated for them.
The Minister's visit to Kumba on April 1 exposed this as the beneficiaries were left with hopes of another allocation apparently next year.The Post learned that in an earlier scheduled visit to Kumba for February 26, the Minister reportedly sent FCFA 7 million for the handicapped, orphans and other vulnerable people and groups.
Of this amount, FCFA 3 million was used to buy tricycles, trucks, foodstuff and cell phones amongst others, to be distributed to handicaps in Kumba.The remaining FCFA 4 million was to be distributed amongst earmarked needy persons, Common Initiative Groups and NGOs.
Unfortunately, the recent unrest caused the Minister to postpone her visit. Meme Social Affairs Delegate, Aaron Nimbom Yong, claimed that bandits who were among rioters invaded his Delegation, stole the money and items allocated for the beneficiaries and burnt the building. He also estimated the damages on the building at FCFA 14 million.
Nimbom told the press that he had hoped that since the Minister had postponed her trip, the same amount (FCFA 7 million) would be sent to his Delegation to prepare the gifts and donations to the needy.
The Minister stopped in Kumba on her way to Mundemba as part of her working visit in the Southwest Province.She doled out FCFA 500,000 to five needy groups that came out to welcome her.
But Bakang Mbock, in her speech, stated that what was lost in the strike cannot be replaced. She said FCFA 3 million was part of the money which government sent to orphans and vulnerable children yearly as HIPC funds since 2005.
The Minister regretted that Kumba would not benefit form the donation this year because of the malaise.She, however, told the disabled to remain hopeful.
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