The Director of the Kumba District Hospital, Southwest Region, Dr. Zachs Ebongo Nanje, has stated that he and his family are living under death threats due to an FCFA 25 million project for the construction of a fence around the health facility.

Ebongo revealed this on October 10, during deliberations on the third quarterly meeting for the examination of the Public Investment Projects, PIP, in Meme Division that took place at the Kumba City Council.

According to Dr. Ebongo, despite numerous pleas for the Government to intervene in the land crisis between the hospital and some inhabitants, who, he claimed, have encroached on the hospital land, “no one is willing to help.” The medic said the fence project has been deviated following instructions from the administration.

“The issue has become a source of personal attacks on my life and family; I received a DO in my office who said the SDO has ordered that the fence be deviated. This matter is off my hands," Ebongo stated.

Reacting to the situation, the Vice Chairman of the Follow-up Committee, Paul Makembe, said it is such conspiracy and secrecy which retards development. Makembe urged Dr. Ebongo to put his complaint in writing so that it can be forwarded to the right quarters.

Johnson Kum Ofon, Finance Controller for Meme, suggested that officials of the Delegation of Land Tenure be called in to tell the public who owns the disputed land.

Another Member of the Committee, Dr. Eben, said the services of the Land Consultative Board should be sought to ensure the smooth construction of the fence.

Earlier, the Follow-up Committee Chair, Hon Martin Atinda, had indicted officials of the Delegation of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, for refusing to throw light on the controversy surrounding the hospital project.

Reacting to the MP's comment, the Divisional Delegate of MINEPAT, Godlove Buinda, averred that his service was not failing in any aspect, but that the matter had become delicate.

Buinda told the Committee Chair that the role of MINEPAT is to ensure that projects allocated in particular areas are executed and not to decide on who owns land.

Sometime in July 2014, the wife of Magistrate Nnoko Mbou reportedly stopped the installation of the contracting firm on the project site. Pamela Nnoko Mbou, in an interview granted The Post on the issue, denied any wrong-doing.

The controversy aside, the Committee submitted that work on the fence project was at 70 percent physical execution rate.

For the entire Meme Division, reports presented by the Divisional Delegate and corroborated by the 2nd Assistant SDO, Nelson Yongkhuma Gamsi, put the level of project realisation at 61 percent physical and 34 percent financial engagement.

The Division has some 70 projects within the current PIP worth FCFA 728 million.