CONAC petitioned over missing 19.92 billion plane money

Communications and Public Relations unit of the People’s Action Party, PAP, of Ayah Paul has written to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, CONAC, asking that it investigates the where about of some 19.9 billion francs resulting from a deal by the government to buy planes from Chinese manufacturers.

In a press release issued recently, PAP disclosed that in 2009 President Paul Biya made an official visit to the People’s Republic of China during which he made a stop over at some Chinese manufacturing companies -among them the Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation. This company manufactures the turboprop-powered airliner of the mark MA60.

It would appear Cameroon had plans to purchase two airbuses from this Chinese company for Camair-Co, the press statement said. Consequently, in 2011 negotiations started between the government of Cameroon and Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation.

The government of Cameroon later disbursed 34.4 billion francs for the purchase of two MA60 planes: MA60 TJX-SE and MA60 TJX-SD. These were officially handed over on 7 March 2015 in the presence of all those who participated in one way or the other in the purchase. These include Robert Nkili, current Minister of Transport, Jean-Paul Nana Sandjo, the General Manager of Camair-Co, Edouard Akame Foumou, Board Chairman of Camair-Co among others, the release states.

PAP says its investigations have revealed that since the introduction of its MA60 turboprop-powered airbus in August 2000 to date, the manufacturer’s price per air plane had fluctuated between 11 to 12 million US dollars, which is about between 6.6 to 7.24 billion francs. It added that non of the company’s other 32 customers including Kyrgystan Airlines, China United Airlines, Bolivian Air force, East Horizon Airlines, the Royal Cambodian Airways, Zimbabwean Air among others have ever purchased a plane above the ceiling cost of 12 million dollars, circa 7.24 billion francs.

By disbursing 34.4 billion francs for the purchase of these planes, PAP says the government over spent by approximately 19.92 billion francs reason why it is calling on CONAC to investigate where the excess money went to.

“If we were to assume that Cameroon got the worst deal by striking the ceiling price of 7.24 billion Francs CFA per airbus, then the total amount paid for both planes stood at nothing more than 14.48 billion Francs CFA. A primary two pupil will do the Arithmetic and get a whopping 19.92 billion Francs CFA unaccounted for – a sum capable of putting two thousand two hundred Cameroonians on a salary of one hundred thousand Francs CFA per month for the next eight years.’’

The party then appeals to CONAC to investigate what it categorizes as a huge corruption scandal. "Sir, on behalf of the Cameroonian people and on our own behalf, People’s Action Party, PAP feel an irresistible urge to draw your attention to this huge corruption scandal. We believe and strongly too that posterity shall never forget the effectiveness, speed and sincerity with which your honourable office tackle this case."