Benin: An unexpected audit at the Parakou city hall reveals irregularities in the management of bus loading taxes

The investigation, conducted by the Department of Administrative and Financial Affairs, in collaboration with the Revenue Recovery service and the Municipal Treasury, covers the period from October 2024 to May 2025.

During the first three months (October to December 2024), no official payment was made. This absence was justified by the lack of a listing in the financial software. However, the ticket books from the CNCB park confirm the recovery of 7,330,000 FCFA, of which only 2,715,000 FCFA have been returned.

An unexplained difference and missing tickets

The audit also reveals a physical disappearance of ten more ticket books, which corresponds exactly to the missing 5 million CFA francs. These books, although recorded on the collection forms, are not found in the physical stocks verified.

In the face of these serious irregularities, the report recommends the full repayment of the diverted funds and the application of disciplinary sanctions against the implicated officers.

One of the implicated officers acknowledged responsibility and made a partial repayment of 2,520,000 FCFA, against a receipt issued by the municipal treasurer. However, a large proportion of the funds remain unaccounted for, fuelling suspicions of organised embezzlement.