For ten months, a team of researchers, economists and volunteers investigated the various achievements of Gabonese government during the last seven years (2016-2023). Out of 105 promises, the unpublished survey estimates that only 13 have been kept, 59 have not been fulfilled, the others have only been partially fulfilled. The authors say they want to help citizens make an informed choice during the August 26 presidential election.
” It’s an inglorious record. “Said Mays Mouissi, one of the authors of the report. The economist explains that of the 105 promises contained in ” My commitment to an emerging Gabon »the President’s program Ali Bongo in the 2016 presidential election, only 13 were held. That is a success rate of only 12%. ” The results are not up to par. There’s been too many missed opportunities », Considers the Gabonese researcher.
The report classified the 105 pledges into three categories, three priorities: peace (34 pledges), employment for all (46 pledges) and better living conditions (25 pledges). The results are divided into five levels, with 59% of promises not fulfilled, 20% very partially, 11% partially, 12% fulfilled and 1% not evaluated.
The purpose of the survey was to make afactual, precise and documented reportof the electoral program. For ten months, about thirty people checked the level of achievement of each of the 105 promises. The team collected legal texts, financial documents, reports, institutional press releases. The members went to the field, assessed the progress of the projects, conducted interviews with the administration, elected officials, donors, people involved, etc.
The report notes some successes, especially when the promises are based on the adoption of texts, some achievements also in the port sector or the construction of primary and secondary schools. But in the end, with regard to the figures, the balance sheet “is a failureaccording to the document which speaks of ainability to implement the presidential program“.
A program detached from reality
Why such a failure? Mays Mouissi speaks first of a program “detached from reality“. Candidate Ali Bongo in 2016, for example, promised to build 700 nurseries. A number “disproportionate to the country», Considers the economist, who also denounces «exaggerated promises, unrelated to each other, with overall inconsistencyhe says. Then, the researcher points to government instability with a waltz of reshuffles and ministers sometimes remaining in office for only a few months. Too few to hope to set up projects.
But what about Covid-19? Of the war in Ukraine? Elements that may have disrupted the seven-year term. “All countries have been disturbed by these events. Moreover, we have taken this into account, but a president is first elected on a program“says Mays Mouissi.
Among the promises kept, we can cite the rehabilitation of the Melen hospital, the construction of nine colleges and eight primary schools, a commercial port and an ore port, the protection of 23% of territorial waters, the strengthening of women’s rights, or even the creation of a commission for the regulation of natural resources.
On the other hand, it is failure on a large number of measures. The commitment of 25,000 young people to a civic service never before created, the construction of 700 crèches, five hydroelectric dams, access to running water for 100,000 additional people, etc.
And, between the two, dozens of promises partially or very partially fulfilled. For example, out of the 27 health centers promised, only eight have come out of the ground. About 1,300 young people were offered apprenticeship contracts instead of the 3,000 announced. Finally, in support for culture, there was indeed a decree establishing the Directorate General for Arts and Cultural Industries. But she did not obtain the means and the creation of an annual prize for the best cultural creation never saw the light of day.
Dependent report
This report is in any case widely criticized by the PDG presidential party. Its spokesperson, Frédéric Massavala Maboumba, denounces its lack of objectivity: “I am amazed by this survey. When we talk about a balance sheet, we take stock of assets and liabilities. There, it is not a balance sheet. It’s a litany of so-called unrealized projects. I am surprised to see that intellectuals do not make the effort to be objective. They are despisers, accusers, prosecutors. They purposely forget what has been done, while exaggerating what has not been done.“. The person in charge of the movement in turn lists projects which have been carried out, but which the report does not mention or does not mention enough.
For roads and bridges, Frédéric Massavala Maboumba cites the now fully paved roads between Libreville, Ntoum, Kango, Bifoun, Lambaréné, Fougamou, Mouila, Ndendé and Lébamba. It also adds the axes of Bifoum, up to Oyem and Bitam. As for the bridges, Gabon has built, on the Port Gentil-Omboué link, one of the longest bridges in Africa, in two sequences, ie about ten kilometers above the mangrove. “It’s phenomenal, it’s extraordinary“says the spokesperson. In all sectors, the latter cites actions by the Head of State crowned with subjects, such as the construction of three training centers in Nkok, Port Gentil and Franceville. The rise of classrooms. The eight medical centers have become departmental hospitals thanks to the quality of their technical platforms, from Fougamou to Lékoni via Okondja and Médouneu. “All this shows an active president, concerned about the well-being of Gabonese. But the report makes false accusations against“, according to Frédéric Massavala Maboumba. The latter recognizes that the investigation has correctly named various factors such as the war in Ukraine, the Covid-19, Ali Bongo’s stroke in 2018, without these being taken into account. “Inevitably, these events have repercussions. Many projects have started and have been slowed down. These delays are called upon to be made up“, says the spokesperson for the CEO.
In any case, Mays Moussi hopes that with this report, the Gabonese people will decide with full knowledge of the facts in the next elections, that politicians will not repeat the same mistakes, that those responsible will assume their record. The economist and his team will continue their work and include a comparative analysis of candidate programs. Frédéric Massavala Maboumba is not worried about possible repercussions at the polls. Ali Bongo will be a candidate for his own succession and his entourage “will show what has been done!
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