N. Bahr el Ghazal refutes allegations of misusing public funds
April 21, 2015 (JUBA) – Officials from South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal state government have denied reports alleging large sums of money meant to procure food items to be sold at lower prices to its citizens were misappropriated.
“There are people who are blaming the government. I want to say the government did not play any role in the purchase of food items. There were companies and these companies made deliveries,” he added.
The minister was reacting to reports alleging that 24 companies were given letters of credit worth 3 million dollars to purchase food items from outside the country and import them to the state where the government was expecting to stock food items to subsidise soaring consumer prices in local markets.
However, it remains unclear whether these companies actually delivered the desired items or simply diverted public funds for other purposes as government critics claimed.
While the state government completely denied involvement in the misappropriation of funds, members of the local parliament blame former caretaker governor Kuel Aguer for issuing letters of credit to private companies allegedly owned by his relatives, business associates and “ghost” companies to siphon funds.
The head of the parliamentary committee for public relations and information, Achak Thiep Thiep, claimed in a statement issued on Monday the contract was given to either business associates to the former governor, relatives or simply ghost companies.
According to the legislator, companies given letters of credit included; Lil Wudom Trading Co. Ltd ($100,000), Nyoric Dit Co. Ltd ($100,000), Grate Way Co. Ltd ($100,000), PMCO Co.Ltd ($100,000), Mama Mhret Company ($100,000), Alexander General Trading Co. Ltd ($100,000), Mareng Investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Delit Co. Ltd ($100,000), Petrogym Petroleum and Logistics Company ($100,000), Lol General Trading Company ($100,000), Mery General Trading Co.ltd ($100,000), Small South Sudan for Investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Remko for Development Co. Ltd ($100,000), Ghazal Development Co. Ltd ($100,000), Mayoldit Trading & Investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Manyieldit Group for Investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Kiera for Investment and General Trading Co. Ltd ($100,000) and Red Arrow Ltd ($100,000).
The other companies also said to have benefited from the state treasury funds were, All Queens Investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Bahr Mayem Trading & investment Co. Ltd ($100,000), Heven for Trading Ltd ($100,000), Kiddi Works Co. Ltd ($300,000), Brideru Fright and Logistics Co. Ltd ($300,000) and Golden Times Co. Ltd ($300,000).
(ST)