Realization of architectural plans invoiced at 7 billion FCFA, an order for a table-bench having never been delivered, but for which the builder is claiming several million francs from the State, paint strokes on buildings supposed to be renovated beforehand … many local SMEs have tried to “swindle” the State which has just discovered and cancel around 241 billion FCFA of false debt.
Launched in June after the establishment of this platform at the initiative of an Ali Bongo concerned about the difficulties experienced by local small and medium-sized enterprises in these times of crisis accentuated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the work of the taskforce on domestic debt have not finished revealing their secrets.
Less than a month after the discovery of 100 billion FCFA of dubious claims that the companies agreed to abandon to avoid legal proceedings, it is approximately 241 billion FCFA of “false debt” out of the 370 billion audited that come from be discovered. This therefore represents about 70% of complaints from SMEs who said they had carried out work on behalf of the State.
Evidence from the field verifications would have shown the contrary. Several companies asking for money from the state have reportedly never delivered government orders. According to some indiscretions, many overbilling have been discovered, for example the 7 billion FCFA claimed by an architectural firm “for the simple realization of public infrastructure plans”, specifies the site Medias241.com. Our colleagues also mention the example of a doubtful debt of “100 billion FCFA for school furniture that has never been delivered”.
To achieve this significant reduction in domestic debt, however, the taskforce did not focus solely on verification linked to the delivery of public orders by SMEs. The platform also looked at the compliance of these companies with the law. In particular, it exhibited procurement judged “non-compliant”.
Indeed, more than 90% of the contracts would have been concluded by mutual agreement and the State would have been engaged by people who do not have the authority to do so. Likewise, the taskforce wanted to ensure that these companies are up to date with their social obligations (CNSS, CNAMGS). In fact, several were not.
