Use of micro projects grants:

SDF MP for Kumba Accused of ‘Chopping’ Alone

-Hon. Mbanya hurries donation to Kumba health facility as Fru Ndi is petitioned over his ‘selfish’ consumption of micro projects grants

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

A strongly-worded petition addressed to the national chairman of the SDF party against the MP for Kumba urban constituency has forced the latter to donate health materials to the Barombi Kang integrated Health Centre in Kumba, The Median was informed.

            An inside source in the SDF in Kumba hinted this reporter that Hon. Mbanya Bolevie Petanga was heavily criticized in the petition to Fru Ndi, with the petitioners describing him as a ‘greedy’ MP who pockets all the micro-project grants he collects from the National Assembly and hardly carries out any development projects in his constituency.

            SDF militants in Kumba told Fru Ndi in their petition that they could no longer contain the thriftiness of their MP, reason why they decided to complain to him so that he could call the MP to order, our informant recounted. He added that as soon as Fru Ndi got the petition from militants of his party in Kumba, he immediately called Hon. Mbanya and urged him to do something fast if only to satisfy the irate militants. 

            “It was therefore in response to the chairman’s advice that Hon. Mbanya donated five beds, three benches, a set of stools, a computer and a refrigerator to the Barombi Kang Health Center recently,” said our informant, who at once noted that some of those who participated in the drafting of the petition against Hon. Mbanya heaved a sigh of relief when they were told that the MP had made a wonderful donation to Barombi Kang Health Centre. 

            It should be noted that FCFA eight million is given annually to each Member of Parliament for micro projects in their communities. This means that a total of FCFA forty million is disbursed to MPs during their five year mandate.

            However, most MPs have complained that the allocation for micro projects is to small or even inconsequential compared to the numerous actions they are expected to take in their communities.

            Some commentators in Kumba have even wondered aloud what impact the government expects an Mp to make with just 40 million fcfa in a city like Kumba. 

            It should be recalled that in 2013 after winning the elections to the National Assembly, Hon. Mbanya promised to create a micro grants committee that would be charged with determining what and where he could carry out parliamentary actions in his constituency. But sources say this committee has never ever met, if at all it was ever created. 

            When we got Hon. Mbanya to comment on the allegations leveled against him, he debunked claims a petition was addressed to his party hierarchy. He asked us to check our information with the Kumba 111 SDF chairman, Bigda Rufus, who like Hon. Mbanya denied that a petition was sent to Fru Ndi.