Rumors suggest that upon the preparation for the AfCON 2019 whose organization was finally withdrawn from Cameroon, companies sold construction materials at higher prices than usual. And yes that’s indeed true.

Speaking during a TV show broadcasted December 23, 2018, on private channel Canal 2 International, Constant Moukoko, Managing Director of 2M, winner of a sports facility contract in Douala, explained how an ordinary bag of cement which costs XAF4,500 usually was traded at XAF16,000, roughly a four time increase.

Link to the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jA5_jVJ39Pc from the 22nd minute of the video.

“Usually, a public procurement, not only in Cameroon but all over the world, is a principle of redistribution of public money to locals, or to the people,” explains the MD.

“If I charge the bag at price X or Y, it is because, a company is solely created to make money and generate jobs. Beyond the simple fact of selling cement bags, the company has let’s say a secretary, an office, a telephone, and other stuff, and the money that comes from the sale of cement is redistributed among them,” he added.

Constant Moukoko explains that basically, the XAF16,000 is redistributed to the architect, engineer or worker on the site. “In short, when you combine all the expenses related to the contract, the bag of cement will be very expensive,” concludes Mr. Moukoko.

Despite these explanations, populations claim it’s an overbilling, which the company of course denies.

Sylvain Andzongo