HIBAPRESS – By Abdellatif Baraka
Weeks have passed since the decision of the Ministry of Interior to dismiss the governor of the Inezgane Ait Melloul prefecture, Ismail Abou Al-Haqq, without any official clarification regarding the circumstances of the decision or the judicial outcome of the ongoing investigations, raising questions about the state's seriousness in activating a key constitutional principle, "linking responsibility to accountability."
– A surprising decision without explanation
In a surprising move, the Ministry of Interior announced, weeks ago, the suspension of Governor Ismail Abou Al-Haqq from exercising his duties, with his attachment to the central departments of the Ministry without a specific task. The decision came after a visit by a three-member inspection committee to the prefecture headquarters, within the framework of investigations described as "thorough" concerning real estate and investment files.
However, what followed the decision was a suspicious silence, as no official statement was issued by the Ministry of Interior clarifying the reasons for the dismissal, nor were legal or institutional clarifications revealed to the public about the severity of the alleged violations, nor whether the matter relates to an internal disciplinary procedure or a prelude to judicial referral.
– Controversial real estate file
Consistent data indicates that the committee observed serious violations in the management of public property, most notably a suspicious deal for a property exceeding 4,600 square meters, which was allocated for the establishment of an educational institution, before being converted into a private commercial project under mysterious circumstances.
The information indicates that the property was sold at a low price to individuals close to the governor, before being resold later at a multiple price to a newly established company, which benefited from an amendment in the zoning plan that granted it an exceptional permit to build additional floors, in clear violation of the procedures in place.
– Absence of accountability.. a violation of the constitution?
This file raises real questions about the state's respect for the constitutional principle of linking responsibility to accountability, as stipulated in the first chapter of the 2011 constitution, which is considered one of the pillars of good governance.
If the governor was actually involved in conflicts of interest and abuse of power, the administrative dismissal is not enough, but rather a transparent judicial inquiry must follow. But if there are no serious violations, the official silence remains unjustified, and it damages the image of the administration and weakens trust in institutions.
– A culture of impunity?
Failure to bring the dismissed official to justice, or even failure to issue an official clarification, consolidates what some call the "culture of impunity," and strips dismissal procedures of their credibility, turning them into mere administrative patching instead of steps within a clear policy to combat corruption.
It also opens the door to many interpretations and creates an atmosphere of ambiguity and suspicion in the relationship between citizens and the territorial administration, and deepens the gap between the constitutional text and its practical application.
– What is required?
It is no longer sufficient to settle for dismissal or exemption. What the public demands, and what the logic of governance and accountability imposes, is the publication of an official statement clarifying to the public the reasons for the dismissal, and the opening of a judicial investigation into suspicions of corruption and conflicts of interest, with the transparent publication of the results of the General Inspection of the Interior's investigations.
Holding all those involved accountable, regardless of their positions, to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
– No accountability without transparency
The case of the dismissal of the governor of Inezgane Ait Melloul once again reveals the fragility of linking responsibility to accountability in practical practice. If this step is not followed by legal accountability, it will remain a mere administrative procedure in the shadows, not rising to the level of citizen expectations, nor to the ceiling imposed by the Kingdom's constitution.
