Minister of Basic Education, Prof. Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, has kept a conspicuous silence amidst swirling allegations of corruption and bribery within his ministry.
The controversy came to light when a report by MMI on April 2 spotlighted the plight of Mifira Musa Nkoutu, a dedicated teacher at the Government Bilingual Nursery and Primary School Koumenke in the West Region of Cameroon. Musa, with eight years of teaching experience, has been denied his rightful salary bonuses allegedly due to demands for a bribe by a senior official at the Ministry of Basic Education, Bah Cletus Fon.
According to the report, Bah Cletus Fon insisted that Musa would only receive his allowances if he agreed to a 40 percent kickback. This saga began in 2018 when Musa was supposed to receive his due allowances, but Bah Cletus Fon interjected, demanding a substantial cut of the money. Musa, understandably hesitant, refused to comply, leading Bah Cletus to withhold and stash away Musa’s file.
Musa’s repeated attempts to rectify the situation, including visits to Yaounde and appeals to higher authorities, have proved futile. Bah Cletus Fon allegedly collaborated with Luma Vincent, a school head in Koutaba, further complicating Musa’s predicament. Despite the existence of official documentation confirming Musa’s entitlements, the funds remain inaccessible due to bureaucratic entanglements orchestrated by Bah Cletus Fon.
“Cletus told me he would die without receiving the money,” Musa said, adding, “He will sit and write to me, reminding me that my documents are in-house and that I will never receive the money because he needs to authenticate them first.”
Musa took the case to the sub-divisional delegate of basic education in Koutaba, Ndam Ismaila, who called Bah Cletus to find out what was happening. Bah Cletus told him and Musa that Musa’s documents were in his house. These are official documents that are supposed to be in the ministry.
Bah Cletus rubbished the two of them, saying they could not do anything, and dropped the call. The money, which ranged from family allowances to research and other bonuses, has now accumulated again.
Bah Cletus Wants Story Removed From News Online Platform
When MMI reported these allegations, Bah Cletus called Musa on Wednesday, April 3, and asked if the story could be removed from the platform. He never denied any accusation and instead told Musa that he would come to Koutaba. Musa instead told him that at that moment, he wanted his money paid, not a visit.
Musa senses the visit as some kind of life threat, MMI has learned. Bah Cletus on the phone told Musa that since the files could not pass through him, Musa was supposed to try other people in the ministry too. Musa questioned how he could try others when Bah Cletus had taken the files to his house.
Mifira Musa Nkoutu heavily in debt, though government teacher
Musa, burdened with debts and familial responsibilities, reluctantly considered paying the demanded bribe to secure his livelihood. However, even after acquiescing, Bah Cletus failed to uphold his end of the bargain, citing distrust in Musa’s intentions.
“I am the only one working in the family. I have six children, plus those of my brothers, looking after me. My mother was recently hospitalized, and I am unable to pay the bills. I am heavily indebted,” he said. “Things became so tough, and I accepted the 40 percent bribe, yet the man refused to process my files. He said the way I am behaving, if he allows the money to pass, I might not give him his cut,” Mifira Musa added.
Mifira Musa’s case on CONAC’s Chairman’s Table
For years now, Musa has been unable to get payment for the money he has labored for. That is because one man in the ministry, Bah Cletus, has removed his file and taken it to his house. These allegations of bribery and corruption have been presented to Cameroon’s National Anti-Corruption Commission, known by its French acronym, CONAC.
CONAC has said it is looking into the case because the body has been charged by President Paul Biya to investigate and fight corruption, which is an endemic issue in Cameroon. Before tabling his complaint to CONAC, Mifira Musa had exhausted all means to secure his money unless he agreed to a 40 percent cut.
He is hopeful that despite the minister’s current silence, his attention will eventually be drawn to the issue of whether his hard-earned money can be used to take care of his family.
