UG discusses public funds abuse at the irrigation company in Menoufia

News - Community Action towards Transparency

In the framework of the activities of the project "Community Action towards Transparency" project, implemented by the United Group with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and on the basis of the protocols of cooperation signed between the United Group and NGOs, dated December 16, 2009, the "General Assembly for Human Rights" association organized a discussion seminar on wasting public funds at "The Irrigation Company for Public Work."

The seminar witnessed the attendance of numerous communities including; representatives of civil society organizations, members of local councils in Menofia, and a number of lawyers, journalists and parties' secretaries. Mr. Muhammad Ali, the representative of the United Group, spoke about the project's objective, represented in consolidating and strengthening the important role of civil society organizations in monitoring public expenditures as the way to achieve the higher goal of preserving public funds in a way that contributes to the development and advancement of society.

The seminar started by the speech of Mr. Hamdi Abdel Azim al-Najjar, who welcomed the audience and thanked the United Group and its representative Mr. Muhammad Ali. Furthermore he identified the role of NGOs in monitoring negative phenomena in society and highlighted the devastating effects of the prevalence of public funds abuse.

After that Mr. Al-Najjar presented an incident of public funds abuse monitored by the Central Auditing Organization at "The Irrigation Company for Public Work" that recorded a net loss of about 22.384 million pounds.