AFDB Funded Projects Evaluated

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...