🇬🇦GabonCentral Africa
Georges Damas Aléka monument controversy highlights public procurement practices in Gabon
via Gabon Review3 min read
The controversy surrounding the construction of the Georges Damas Aléka monument, particularly involving architect Erick Mauro Nguémah, has brought to light issues within Gabon's public procurement system. Following a formal notice from the President of the Republic regarding construction delays, public opinion initially focused on Nguémah. However, revelations from a memorandum by the Gabonese Order of Architects OGA suggest a more complex situation, pointing to potential unorthodox practices in public projects. The OGA document, attributed to a former president of the organization, indicates a reduced initial budget, shortened execution deadlines, requested modifications during construction, and delays in fund disbursement. It also describes Nguémah as the leader of a consortium comprising his firm, nine specialized companies, and seven control offices. These details suggest that the project's difficulties may not solely be the architect's responsibility. The article emphasizes that contracts are not static and that changes in design, schedule, or financing should lead to contractual adjustments, such as amendments. The absence of such formal adjustments can blur the lines between non-execution and impossibility of execution, making it difficult to assign responsibility. It argues that responsibility in contracts is reciprocal, with both the client maître d'ouvrage and the contractor maître d'œuvre having obligations. The core issue, according to the article, is the opacity
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Gabon Review.
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