afrol News, 22 January - Guinea's military junta has issued a long list of ex-government officials to appear before an audit commission investigating corruption on its crackdown on corrupt officials who allegedly embezzled government funds.

The military coup placed government led by Captain Moussa Dadis Camara vowed to crack down on corruption after overthrowing the government in the mineral-rich country on 23 December following the death of president Lansana Conte. The junta says it will seek to recover millions in debt owed to government.

A list of 14 people, including several ministers, top businessmen and rich mine officials have also been summoned to appear before the commission.

Amongst others, the hearings which are held in the capital Conakry at a military barracks, are seeking the former Finance Minister Ousmane Dore to account for $5m (£3.6m) which was allocated for the country's 50th independence anniversary last year.

The Ex-Sports Minister Baidy Aribot will be quizzed over how nearly $15m (£11m) funding for the national football team's participation in the African Cup of Nations in Ghana last year was spent.

The Managing Director of the Electricity of Guinea (EDG), Sékou Sanfina Diakité, who tops the list, is suspected to have embezzled more than US$ 6 million the government obtained from the national Bank of Paris.

The Chairman of the Group Futurelec, El Hadj Mamadou Sylla, is accused of receiving US$ 22 million and 16 billion Guinean francs with fake vouchers, while the Chairman and Managing Director of SAFRICOM, Alsény Barry, and the owner of Hamana, Mamady Kourouma are said to have embezzled US$ 14.7 million obtained from the same bank.

Guinea's junta which has been slapped with sanctions by international community and having been suspended from regional and continental blocks has pledged to hold elections by the year end after intense persuasion.

President Camara's National Council for Democracy and Development has promised to step down soon after elections.

Guinea has more than a third of the world's bauxite reserves. Despite large reserves of gold, diamonds, iron and nickel, as well as recently-discovered uranium, Guinea is one of the world's poorest countries.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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