Congo Basin Fund; Britain threatens to suspend aid to Cameroon

Britain has threatened to suspend aid to Cameroon following uncertainty over the fate of 9 million pounds (9 billion FCFA) that government has not yet accounted for.

The British government is accusing Cameroon’s Ministry of Finance of withholding funds donated last year under the auspices of Congo Basin Fund.

An envoy of British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, asked Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni who received him in audience at the Star Building recently to ensure that 9 million pounds sterling the British government donated to Cameroon earlier as assistance to its environment and forestry programmes is used and accounts rendered before any further transactions between the two countries can proceed.

Barry Gardiner, Brown’s special envoy to Yaounde, disclosed that “the money has been unfortunately locked up in the Ministry of Finance for almost a year”

Should Yaounde not make use of the money and render an account, he warned, “It will be impossible for Cameroon to see money coming in from the Congo Basin Fund and the Preparatory Fund”.

Britain’s Gordon Brown established the Congo Basin Fund of 50 million pounds sterling to reduce poverty and help in the sustainable management of forests in the whole of the Congo Basin but Cameroon, one of the beneficiaries, is apparently not making use of the fund for yet unexplained reasons. There are suspicious that the money was diverted for other purposes, especially after the heavy spending by government during last year’s twin elections.

Barry also announced that an additional 8 million pounds sterling Preparatory Fund will be established and made operational by June or July this year. He asked civil society organizations, NGOs, the private sector and all levels of government to forward proposals to the fund for assistance.

Projects sponsored by the fund would be expected to ensure efficient management of the forest as well as curb poverty among people whose livelihoods depend on the forest.

But if government does not make available the 9 million pounds, then Cameroonians will not benefit from this programme.

Courtesy - Harry Ndienla Yemti