USAID/Guinea: Community Exposes Mismanagement of Public Funds, Leading to Suspension of Official

DECEMBER 7, 2006

Community Exposes Mismanagement of Public Funds, Leading to Suspension of Official

A school committee trained in financial management and administrative transparency stands firm when local officials attempt to divert funds earmarked for additional training.

DINGUIRAYE - When Tibou Bah showed up to train the local school committees (APEAE) in principles of school administration, committee members knew something wasn't quite right.

First, the co-signatory on the check that would pay the trainer nearly 19 million Guinean francs (about $3,500) was not, as required, an elected APEAE official- it was Tibou Bah himself. Second, members of the school committee were not convinced that Bah was qualified to conduct the training for which he was hired.

Subsequent action by members of the APEAEs (Association des Parents d'Elèves et des Amis de l'École, or association of parents and friends of the school) set off a chain of events demonstrating that Guinea' civil society is prepared to play a significant role in fighting government corruption, a key component of USAID/Guinea's new three-year strategic objective.

Dinguiraye Mayor Mamadou Bah led the school association drive to recover funds misappropriated by the Prefectural Education Director.

The APEAE's vigilance prompted an investigation by the inspector general of Guinea's Ministry of Education. After his review the education minister, Dr. Bhoye Barry, demanded repayment of the misappropriated money from Appolinaire Thea, Dinguiraye's DPE (Directeur Prefectoral de l'Education, or Prefectoral Education Director). In an unprecedented rebuke, the minister later suspended Thea from his duties as DPE.

The funds, provided by USAID/Guinea in support of the Projet Maillon training project implemented by RTI International, were returned to the APEAE in a Nov. 13 ceremony in Dinguiraye, attended by the Education Ministry's secretary general and inspector general, and USAID/Guinea Mission Director Jack Winn.

"We salute the positive role played by the parents association in preventing funds intended for education from being misused," Winn told attendees at the ceremony. "I hope Dinguiraye's example will inspire other communities in the promotion of good governance and transparency in the management of the public funds."

The Dinguiraye APEAE became aware of the irregularities because of previous training they received under the PACEEQ project, also funded by USAID. PACEEQ training of parents associations is intended to make them capable of participating in the management of the school and to increase equity between boys and girls and between children in urban and rural areas.

With the return of the misappropriated funds, Project Maillon will proceed with the intended training of 180 APEAE members on their roles and responsibilities within the partnership. Other planned initiatives to advance the educational system in Dinguiraye prefecture include the training of 60 primary school teachers in the management of the multigrade classes and the training of 80 contract teachers in geometry and oral and written expression.

The strong participation of the community in the Nov. 13 ceremony signifies the community's commitment to the principles of transparency and fiscal accountability of Project Maillon.

"The significance is that the community condemns what the DPE has done," said Mamadou Bah, mayor of Dinguiraye and former president of the town's APEAE. "It will serve as an example. Now [Projet Maillon] will follow activities closely, and the Minister of Education will watch closely what's happening in the community."

"I honestly think this is an empowering situation," said Jim O'Rourke, country director for Education Development Corp. and chief of party for Projet Maillon. "It would have been very easy for this not to be noticed."

Story and photo by Richard Stirba