Benin: The Democrats demand clarity on several shady areas of Talon’s management

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In a statement read by their communications secretary, Guy Mitokpè, they denounced what they call the “systemic opacity” of the regime in place since 2016.

The party specifically points out the exorbitant costs of certain infrastructures (the Marina Boulevard, the national Assembly’s seat, the statues of the Amazon and Bio Guéra, etc.) and calls for clarification on expenditure related to projects like the commercial hub around the Mathieu Kérékou stadium, the Foreign Affairs minister’s residence, or the vice-presidency’s offices.

The Democrats also mention the government’s persistent silence on sensitive issues such as the salaries of executive members, the management of the Benin-Taxi program, or the contracts awarded without competitive bidding. They see these as practices contrary to the principles of transparency and good governance.

The statement also revisits the controversial comments of the former Minister of Energy, Paulin Akpona, who alluded to embezzlement within his ministry. The party sees this as confirmation of the accusations it has been making for years.

In light of the magnitude of the issues raised, “The Democrats” are calling for the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry commission. They also ask the CRIET to take on the dossier and demand the organization of transparent general elections in 2026, arguing that “only a change of governance will be able to restore confidence and relieve the Beninese people.”

The full declaration

Since its onset in April 2016, the so-called “breakaway” regime, unlike any other before it since the era of democratic renewal in our country, has stood out as the most opaque regime.

This opacity, which is nothing else than the DNA of this regime, has always been denounced by the “The Democrats” Party.

Whether at the National Assembly, during encounters with the population, on radio broadcasts, television shows, or digital platforms, we have always hammered this point with supporting evidence.

Our recent denunciations have focused on the various scandals observed in the cost of execution of certain infrastructures under construction or already delivered, such as the Marina Boulevard, the Sèmè–Porto-Novo road, the National Assembly’s new building, to name just a few.

But before these denunciations, the MPs of the “The Democrats” Group have challenged the Government on essential issues:

-the management and termination of leases;

-the BENIN-TAXI file;

-the political salaries of Government members, the Presidents of Republic’s institutions, and the General Directors of the State’s agencies;

All of these questions went unanswered.

Not to mention the surge in sole-source contracts, awarded without competitive bidding, in total opacity.

Let’s remember that this regime even refused to answer the Constitutional Court, which had asked for the publication of salaries.

We should also recall the fruitless efforts of civil society to obtain a copy of the Port of Cotonou contracts signed with the Belgians….

 Our people need to know what their efforts are being put towards, and where their taxes are going.

In the meantime, the population continues to notice dubious public expenditure:

The commercial hub under construction around Mathieu Kérékou stadium, estimated at over 30 billion;

The Foreign Affairs minister’s residence, according to SIMAU figures, will cost over 1.2 billion;

The vice-presidency’s offices are valued at over 6 billion.

Our people demand illumination on all these projects.

-the new Parliament project, initially announced at 25 billion, is now over 78 billion FCFA

-the cost of creating the Amazon or Bio Guéra statues.

-the total cost of road surfacing

And while these vanity expenses pile up, the regime:

Refuses to cover dialysis costs for patients;

Refuses to hire Aspirants for Education Careers (AME);

Prefers to increase budgets for projects that have no real impact on citizens’ purchasing power.

The “The Democrats” Party was still demanding clarity on all these facts when, during a visit to Parakou, the former Minister of Energy and Water, Mr. Paulin Akpona, accompanied by Bloc Republican leaders, including Mr. Rachidi Gbadamassi, made extremely serious statements that continue to resound:

What was Mr. AKPONA, a chartered accountant, trying to reveal when talking about the siphoning off of several billion presumably committed by his predecessor?

Don’t his words confirm all the denunciations made for years by “The Democrats”?

What did he mean by his phrase: “the BR will bring water and energy to the population”?

Are a minister’s achievements the projects of a party?

Was he fired for telling the truth, or because his statements were disturbing and exposed the practices of this regime?

In the meantime, the population’s purchasing power is declining, inequalities are widening, and the state’s coffers are being emptied for the benefit of a few.

The parliamentary group is requesting the opening of a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on all these acts of wrongdoing.

Our people have been suffering for nearly 10 years.

Benin truly has a soul. Mr. Akpona validates all our denunciations. Dismissed as lies or the statements of a bitter opposition, in one session, Mr. Akpona laid bare the regime and unveiled to the world the major recurring lie of the fight against corruption and the supposed transparency in management.

The “The Democrats” Party encourages and supports the deputies in the establishment of an inquiry commission and invites them to use all the possibilities of the internal regulations of parliament to enlighten the Beninese people.

The “The Democrats” Party is available to hear from justice, especially from the CRIET on this “AKPONA Gate”.

In view of these incessant scandals, the Beninese people, more than ever, are reissuing their demand to the so-called breakaway power for the organization of transparent, inclusive, and peaceful general elections in 2026 to formally uphold your departure and the inception of democratic governance.