MINCOM Debunks COVID-19 Funds Embezzlement Allegations

By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo

The Secretary-General at Cameroon’s Ministry of Communication, MINCOM, Prof. Felix Zogo has debunked media, and reports that the Ministry received FCFA 8 billion as part of COVID-19 corruption saga.

According to the Secretary-General of MINCOM, his ministry received FCFA 100 million out of FCFA 300 million they requested. Prof. Felix Zogo stated that the amount was raised to FCFA 420 million by a Prime Ministerial decree in relation to financial allocations to institutions concerned with Government strategy to fight Covid-19.

Prof. Zogo’s clarifications are coming on the heels of media claims from a Yaounde-based radio broadcaster that Minister Emmanuel Rene Sadi received the sum of FCFA 8 billion as part of corruption scam.

“Contrary to false allegations spread by a journalist, MINCOM has never received any billions; … neither this journalist, nor his children, has been subjected to mistreatment, let alone sequestration in the office of the Minister of Communication,” MINCOM said. However, in a social media report that went viral, the radio broadcaster declared that he was kidnapped and undressed by police officers in Minister Sadi’s office. He also claimed that he was molested on grounds to disclose the source of his information.

The said journalist said, “I repeat no matter what each has had in these solidarity funds, we will find out, and say it.”