By Binia Elizabeth

Northern Bahr el-Ghazal State Minister of Information, Gabriel Deng Yel has dismissed claims about the mismanagement of the Aweil Rice Scheme and assets.

Deng said there was no discussion of such issues raised when a delegation from Juba, which included Pal Mai Deng, the National Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation alongside Lily Albino Akol, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, visited Aweil last month.

He said the purpose of their visit was to launch the rice harvest of the Aweil Rice Scheme in the presence of the implementing partner, the UNFOA Country Director.

The minister said during the briefing that the delegates agreed to review the progress of the scheme and the challenges related to the phase harvest.

Deng said they were surprised when Lily Albino Akol said about 20 tractors once allocated to the Aweil Rice Scheme disappeared and were found in the market stationed for hire from private owners.

She attributed the loss of bulldozers, graders, and housing to persistent state government interference in its operation and management, warning that those assets would be reclaimed for the benefit of the Aweil Rice Scheme.

In response, Minister Deng said the State government under the leadership of Governor Simon Ober is fully aware of the importance of the Aweil Rice Scheme.

“As one of the national schemes in the country, we are fully committed to this project. We will do everything in our power to protect and safeguard assets earmarked for the resulting projects which are carried out in phases,” the state minister said.

He continued that after assuming office in June 2024, Governor Ober formed the Asset Recovery Committee, underlining his unwavering commitment to recovering lost assets and returning them to their rightful institutions of which the Aweil Rice Scheme is a part.

“It should be understood that Governorship transitions sometimes, but the period during which the assets went missing should be specified to avoid incorrectly attributing responsibility to the new state government for actions that were not committed during its limited tenure.”

“It is not true that the current government rented out or sold tractors, bulldozers and graders to private businesses, which then led to their damage and abandonment,” he added.