Close to half a century after the Wum Giant Water Project saw the light of day under the name ‘Kesu Water Project’, the people are yet to enjoy dividends.
Kesu, the largest of the 13 communities that make up Wum, is the source of the water that should have long changed the fate of the subdivision.
But despite the dire need for potable water in Wum, the Aghem Cultural and Development Association (ACADA) and its leadership have apparently allowed their individual appetites to override the people’ will.
Although the Water Project was initially conceived by the community in 1996, the Rotary Foundation supported the project from 2008.
Today, the project is being funded by the Cameroon Government after ACADA chased away the Rotary Foundation.
Indeed, the Wum Giant Water Project has over the last 30 years been in phases. The first phase was that funded by Rotary. The second was funded by contribution from Aghem people. The third phase is ongoing and is funded by the Cameroon government.
While the phases financed by the Government and Rotary Foundation are clear for all to see, the Aghem Cultural and Development Association (ACADA) is yet to account for funds received from the community.
ACADA under the leadership of Andrew Muaitung has since been unable to give an account to the community, despite managing tens of millions of FCFA contributed by villagers for the water project.
When Andrew Muaitung and hi ACADA clique chased out Rotary Foundation from the project, Rotary needed just two weeks and about FCFA 4.6 million to complete the final phase which was distribution of water to residents of Wum.
While Rotary was working for the interest of the population, the ACADA leadership was rather interested in making money. In February 2016, ACADA sponsored a youth group called Duogho Mbuakong to threaten the Water Project Engineer, Akwo Boniface and other technicians who were implementing Rotary work.
The ACADA sponsored thugs asked the workers to back off except Rotary handed over all money for the project to ACADA. Dighambong Anthony (Mayor of Wum), Akwo Boniface (Water Project Engineer) and Awah Ngum (Technician), who were implementing the project on behalf of Rotary, were asked to stay aside from the Water Project while Andrew Muaitung (President General of ACADA) be allowed to manage Rotary Foundation funds.
That is the chaotic and abrupt termination of Rotary implementation and funding of the project.
Mimi Mefo Info understands that when Rotary left, ACADA took over and started collecting money from Aghem people across the globe.
Today, Aghem people are demanding that the ACADA executive should present a financial report along with all supporting documents of what they did with the money Aghem people contributed and the loan they got from Wum Credit Union. (Andrew Muaitung had used ACADA to loan FCFA 40 million from the Wum Credit Union).
The Aghem people are also asking for evidence and reports and contracts and receipts of all money that they contributed. The people want ACADA to explain why they lied to the government by presenting the exact letter they presented to request support from government in the name of Aghem people.
No single ACADA executive is speaking up or responding to the cries of Aghem people and the people are in dire need of potable water.
While ACADA is yet to account for the over FCFA 78 million contributed by the people and the FCFA 40 million loan collected from the Wum Credit Union, the people are thirsty to drink potable water.
