AFDB Funded Projects Evaluated

#Economie

Progress on the infrastructure was reviewed in Yaounde, February 12, 2019.

The Ministry of Public Works and the Cameroon office of the African Development Bank (AfDB) have met in Yaounde to discuss means and ways to speed up building of road infrastructures funded by the development finance institution. The meeting in Yaounde on February 12 was cochaired by Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and Solomane Kone, Country Director of the AfDB.

Some of the main projects reviewed included the bridge over Logone River to link Cameroon and Chad, the YaoundeBafoussam road, the Kumba-Mamfe, Bamenda-Enugu and the Bamenda Ring Road which Minister Nganou Djoumessi said has been in the pipeline for decades.

He noted that the direct beneficiaries of the road will be excited to know the Bank has approved funds to facilitate the transformation of the ring road dream into a reality.

He regretted that the ongoing crisis in Anglophone regions is slowing down the execution of projects, but reassured the development partner that the Ministry of Public Works will work with security forces to ensure that work goes on smoothly, especially on National Road Number 11.

He prayed the bank officials to exercise patience and extend deadlines for some projects in the regions, noting that things are returning to normalcy. Meanwhile Dr Joseph N’guessan Kouassi, Regional Sector Manager for the Energy, Infrastructure and Financial Sector at the Bank appreciated government for the discussions aimed at “accelerating operations in the road infrastructure sector.

We are happy with the measures taken by the Minister to permit the good accomplishment of works on the Batchenga-Ntui and Tibati roads despite a financial deficiency on the part of the main construction company on the project.” He opined that the Yaounde-Bafoussam road is a strategic highway which gives access to an international corridor financed by the AfDB (the Bamenda-Mamfe and Ekok corridor.) “The Bank is currently financing the Kumba-Mamfe road project which was divided in two phases.

The first phase is ended and the second realised at approxi mately 88 per cent and that has been stopped. Many socioeconomic projects envisaged as part of this operation, like the construction of classrooms and health centers have not been implemented for reasons you know. What we retained from the working session with the Minister is that the government is trying to solve the problem and continue executing investment projects”,

He said About the 365 km Ring Road, he said the bank has approved the first installment worth €17.96 million; while a request for the second installment will be tabled to the board of the Bank on June 26 this year. “The realization of this important road which is one of the entries to Nigeria will boost agric and commercial businesses,” he said.