Less than two months after the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MINHDU) Célestine Ketcha Courtès signed a memorandum of intent with the French government for the development of road infrastructure in Bamenda, another financial commitment has been announced.
The Minister of Public Works Nganou Emmanuel Djoumessi in a press release issued this June 19 2024, announced that the World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved an additional financing package of 30 billion CFA Francs for the rehabilitation of the Bamenda urban crossing.
The newly approved funds according to the release will support the rehabilitation of key urban sections, including the Amour Mezam Junction, Finance Junction, Veterinary Junction, T-Junction, Hospital Roundabout, Food Market, City Chemist Roundabout, and Veterinary Junction. This 6.538 km stretch will be widened from 17 meters to 30 meters.
"This additional funding will cover the widening of the cross-section of this urban crossing from 17 to 30 meters, as expressly requested to the Head of State by the population concerned," stated Minister Nganou.
Minister Nganou emphasized that the remaining works on the Bamenda-Babadjou road will commence before the end of 2024, fulfilling President Paul BIYA's commitment to modernizing the region's road infrastructure.
"The execution of this project will decongest the city of Bamenda and enable smooth traffic flow on this section of the Yaounde Bamenda-Mamfe-Ekok/Mfum-Abakaliki-Enugu corridor (438 km) which has already been paved," he added.
Ensuring Project Success
To ensure the project's success, the Minister says the recruitment of a contractor and a control mission to oversee the works is currently underway. The additional funding will also support the continuation of the Complaints Management Mechanism and Third Party Monitoring, which are essential for maintaining dialogue with the local population and ensuring transparency throughout the project's execution.
Minister Nganou also noted that significant progress has already been made on the Babadjou-Bamenda road, with the Babadjou-Matazem section (17 km) completed and ongoing works in the Matazem-Welcome to Bamenda (18 km), Welcome to Bamenda-Ecole des Champions (4.930 km), and Ecole des Champions-Amour Mezam (4.5 km) sections, all slated for completion by the end of 2024.
Editor's Note
This comprehensive approach to road rehabilitation is expected to play a crucial role in improving the socio-political climate in the North-West Region by enhancing connectivity and fostering economic growth. With the combined efforts of domestic and international stakeholders, Bamenda is set to witness significant improvements in its urban infrastructure, benefiting residents and setting a benchmark for future projects across Cameroon.