By Kini Nsom
The US Embassy in Yaounde has issued a disclaimer, refuting persistent claims that the controversial NGO, Fondation Pour I'Association Maladie-Maternite, FAMM-Cameroon, has any affiliation with the U.S government.
FAMM-Cameroon Building
Issued by the Public Affairs and Information authorities of the Embassy on March 11, the release came in the wake of accusations that FAMM-Cameroon is nothing but a racketeering outfit.
Many Cameroonians have written petitions to the Prime Minister's
office, claiming the NGO duped them of huge sums of money but failed to
offer them jobs as earlier promised.
Founded by a certain Dr. Brigitte Ambella Jeffrey, the NGO has the
following inscription in its logo "USA-Cameroon Cooperation, Social
Security NGO FAMM-Cameroon."
FAMM-Cameroon flies both the Cameroon and the US flags in front of its offices, giving the impression that it was affiliated with the US government. It was for this reason that the US Embassy issued a disclaimer, which partly reads, "The US Embassy disavows any connection to Foundation Pour L'Association Maladie-Maternite Cameroun, known more commonly as FAMM-Cameroon."
Find the Lowest Pre-Paid Calling Cards ONLY atIt further states that the US Embassy does not provide any support to FAMM-Cameroon whatsoever and is in no way involved in the activities of the association. "The US Embassy encourages the public to alert the US Embassy Political, Economic Section of any claims made to this effect by the association's administration or staff," states the disclaimer.
According to the US Embassy, a registration certificate signed by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, MINATD, on February 7, 2002, indicates that FAMM-Cameroon is an association with headquarters in Yaounde (P.O Box 662, Yaounde).
The Embassy authorities say although research has also uncovered a Washington D.C Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs registration for non-profit "FAMM-Cameroon (SIC) registered on September 16, 2003, in the US, it does not cancel the fact that the headquarters is Yaounde.
The release also notes that as per the 1996 law on the granting of NGO status, after three years of effective work and upon submission of annual reports, MINATD may change the status of FAMM-Cameroon from association of an NGO.
"On the strength of the MINATD registration certificate, the US Embassy concludes that FAMM is a local Cameroonian association", concludes the release.Meanwhile the Northwest civil society organisation in Bamenda has dragged the NGO to court, accusing its authorities of duping some 2000 poverty- stricken people of their hard earned money.
"FAMM-Cameroon has taken money to the tune of over FCFA 290 million and
has failed to provide the people jobs as they promised. This is an
abuse of confidence,' the Northwest civil society leader, Simon Nkwenti
told The Post in a telephone interview over the weekend.
He said five representatives of the victims are engaged in a legal
battle with the organisation in a bid to recover their money.
When The Post visited FAMM-Cameroon headquarters at Tsinga, its Director, Ambella Jeffrey, avoided making any comments. She rather designated her collaborators to answer the questions. According to the Inspector General No. 1 at the NGO, Simplice Owona Mbarga, the money their clients paid was not meant for employment but for training and health insurance coverage.
He said by paying FCFA 200,000, it was not automatic that everybody would be employed after training. He said he underwent the same training and was not sure that he would be employed until they surprised him with a job because of his spectacular performance.
To him, employment in the outfit depends on how many people the job seeker has affiliated with the FAMM-Cameroon health insurance scheme.He said following malicious allegations against the NGO, government blocked its account. This plunged the NGO into an abyss of general crisis. He regretted that following the crisis, its workers in Bamenda shut down the agency and stole valuable medical equipment and computers.
He said they were still waiting for more funding from their partners in the US to continue running their social clinics. Many of their clinics remain closed. But the Mokolo clinic is seen to still have some life. The Post spotted some patients screening for treatment there.
According to Owona, all those who are benefiting from their health insurance scheme are those who have paid their contributions. He said many petty traders at Mokolo Market are part of the health insurance scheme. According to him, their clients benefit 70 percent reduction in the cost of their drugs.
He regretted that even after they signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the state of Cameroon does not seem to really understand the concept of social security they are trying to introduce in the country.
The FAMM-Cameroon stay remains quite enigmatic, especially because government has maintained sealed lips to allegations that the outfit was duping Cameroonians with its blessing.
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