Members (clients) of the Mutual savings and credit of artisans producers of Burkina (MECAP) claimed again Friday, their savings of nearly 300 million FCFA, vanished with the bankruptcy of the microfinance institution in 2018.
The former members (clients) of the Mutuelle d'épargne et de credit des artisans producteurs du Burkina (MECAP) in Dédougou no longer know where to turn. Indeed, since the bankruptcy of the microfinance institution in 2018, the latter have still not come into possession of their due.
According to members' estimates, this closure of MECAP took with it a sum of approximately 300 million belonging to the mutualists of Dédougou.
From the gendarmerie to justice, passing through the treasury, the administrative authorities, all the steps have remained in vain.
“In 2020, we met the Minister in charge of Finance who reassured us that a solution will be found quickly. Until today, it is radio silence”, regretted the spokesperson, Zakaria Dianda.
By inviting the press on June 23, 2023, he justified, he wants to invite the authorities of the moment to take up the case so that justice is done“The institution had an accreditation. We just want the texts to be applied in such circumstances, ”he suggested.
This closure of MECAP has caused a lot of harm to its members. “There are traders who have become social cases. Others died (three) because having fallen ill, they no longer had the means to treat themselves, ”he illustrated.
And to recall that the MECAP was an institution which had its heyday in Dédougou from 2002 until its bankruptcy. “Withdrawal and deposit operations were carried out in complete security. The institution granted loans with an attractive rate to its members,” he said.
Personally, Mr. Dianda says he lost 5.8 million FCFA. Anything that led to the closure of his agricultural farm. “My five employees are unemployed,” he regretted.
Same story for Sigrun Spaans, a Dutch expatriate, founder of a technical school in Dédougou, for whom this bankruptcy made her lose 4.6 million FCFA.
“I pursued in vain. We are in the land of upright men, and I am confident that justice will be done to me,” she hoped.
And to Ousséni Ouédraogo, a shopkeeper who says he lost 1.05 million FCFA. “All my capital is gone. Currently it is suffering,” he said.
A member of the board of MECAP, actually confirms the facts.
“We come under a union which is U-MECAP. All steps have been taken to reimburse the members. At the latest news, the file is at the Prime Ministry (since 2021),” he said.
But he still remains hopeful that customers will one day be reimbursed. “I also lost money. We are still waiting. Bobo Dioulasso customers had to wait five years after MECAP's bankruptcy before getting their due,” he says.
Source: Burkina Information Agency