Somalia’s Ministry of Education Mr. Farah Sheikh Abdiqadir is once again under suspicion of turning his Ministry into a cash cow for his lifestyle and family expenses. The Minister is accused of failing to comply parliamentary oversight and not ensuring transparency and accountability at the Ministry of Education.
In a just released letter to the Auditor General, to both chambers of Parliament, and to international donors, MP Abdullahi Hashi Abib accuses Farah Abdiqadir and the Ministry of Education of “repeated refusals to provide the requested budgetary information demonstrate a troubling pattern of behavior that suggests a belief of being above the law. This attitude is reminiscent of authoritarian regimes … Such behavior is antithetical to the democratic principles that should guide our government’s operations.”
In his detailed letter, MP Abib identifies large cash withdrawals which he says “violate parliamentary orders and misappropriate public funds.” The MP then provides the following examples:
1. There have been several instances of large cash withdrawals without adequate documentation or justification. One such large lump sum without any details amounted to US$373,728.
2. Another $95,191 in two installments have been allocated to companies that don’t exist and are not registered with the Federal Ministry of Commerce. They include World Bank Project Number P172434 and Contract Number 1769060 contracted to Kulmiye Construction & Trading Company in the amount of $29,890.00 with Contract Reference SO-MOECHE-GS-389001-GO-RFQ to procure furniture for Teacher Training Centre and PIU Office. Horn Population Research and Development is another contractor with World Bank, Project Number P172434 and Contract Number 1737060 in amount $66,301.10.
3. Then there are self-dealing contracts and paying contractors for personal services. One such contractor paid to the tune of $301,287 is SHABEEL GROUP. Shabeel Group, paid for security services by the Ministry of Education, has been used as his residence and political office by Minister Farah Abdiqadir and members of the President’s political party.
MP Abib details in his letter that “This relationship was not being disclosed in the World Bank application forms, constituting a direct violation of the World Bank’s procurement rules and regulations.”
Detailing shortcoming after shortcoming, corruption allegation after corruption allegation against Minister Farah Abdiqadir, the LETTER then makes it clear that the “integrity of Somalia’s educational future hinges on the prompt and decisive action of the Office of the Auditor General” and then recommends an “immediate investigation and audit.”
Contributed to by Daljir staff in Garoowe and Nairobi
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