Togo’s Covid-19 fund scandal: Authorities denies misappropriation claims

The Togolese authorities has dismissed allegations of malfeasance within the administration of the fund meant to battle the coronavirus epidemic, saying that spending is “compliant, common and honest”.

Important irregularities have been pinpointed in an audit report by the Court docket of Auditors, sparking outrage within the West African nation.

In a press launch revealed Thursday night, the federal government is “delighted that this report considers that the expenditure referring to barrier, response or well being measures is compliant, common and honest”.

“The Court docket acknowledges that the attainable ineligibility of an expenditure might come up from a context marked by excessive urgency because of the unpredictability of the disaster (…) This doesn’t imply that the expenditure is fictitious or that the funds have been utilized in an unlawful and even misappropriated approach”, considers the federal government.

For the chief, the Court docket “didn’t set up a report of embezzlement or fraud”.

The Covid-19 Response and Solidarity Fund (FRSC) was created by the federal government the day after the invention of the primary case of coronavirus in March 2020. Particularly, it acquired technical and monetary assist from worldwide companions, such because the Union European, the IMF, and even the World Financial institution.

Out of 108 billion CFA francs (165 million euros) spent in 2020, says the Court docket’s report, “sure funds (…) associated to non-priority expenditure or not having direct hyperlinks with the implementation of response measures towards Covid 19”.

This 86-page doc revealed on February 1 additionally factors to money transfers, a measure meant to assist the poorest, which generally benefited individuals who weren’t eligible.

Above all, the report notes an expenditure of 13 million euros spent on the acquisition of 31,500 tonnes of rice by the Ministry of Commerce, with none hint of an order.

The court docket’s report made headlines this week and is being extensively mentioned on social media, with a number of opposition figures calling on Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé to take motion.

In a press launch revealed on Friday, the Dynamic Monsignor Kpodzro (DMK) – which brings collectively seven opposition political events and 6 civil society organizations – invitations the general public prosecutor to “self-seize on this case”.

“The DMK believes that when once more, the Togolese individuals have simply been betrayed by women and men who shouldn’t have their belief, and Faure Gnassingbé should draw all the required penalties,” the assertion added.