The Bamenda III Council delegation, led by Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe, continued their visit to Banyo on Friday, 2 August 2024. Banyo's Mayor El Hadj Garba Soule guided the delegation, showcasing a series of transformative projects aimed at elevating Banyo’s economic and cultural landscape.
The delegation’s tour began with the Complexe Touristique du Mont Djoumbal, which includes a completed resort and an event center, with a sports complex under construction. Mayor Soule explained, "This center is a part of our vision to give Mount Djoumbal the value it deserves, making Banyo a world-renowned tourist attraction."
From the tourist center, the delegation visited the newly constructed slaughterhouse. This facility is crucial for managing livestock, particularly cattle, which is central to Banyo’s economy. The slaughterhouse ensures the community consumes quality beef, which indicates Banyo’s commitment to food safety and public health.
The tour continued to the ongoing Banyo Central Market project, a major initiative costing over 2 billion FCFA. Mayor Soule provided a detailed overview of the market, emphasizing its potential to boost local commerce. The market will feature a dedicated meat market for processing and packaging beef sourced from the slaughterhouse, ensuring a streamlined process from livestock management to consumer products.
Banyo's strategic location as a border town less than 50 kilometers from Nigeria facilitates the influx of livestock and goods, providing substantial revenue for the customs department, the council, the Lamidad of Banyo, and the local population. According to Mayor Soule, when such livestock arrives, it is controlled, sold, and then transported to other parts of Cameroon, generating important revenue streams.
Throughout the tour, Mayor Soule, known for his approachable nature, engaged with local vendors in the markets, conversing in the local Fulfulde language. He outlined his five key objectives for Banyo’s development: establishing Banyo as a commercial center, enhancing educational opportunities with new universities and institutions of higher learning, promoting tourism, ensuring food sufficiency, and advancing livestock development and processing.
As part of his efforts to ensure food sufficiency, Mayor Soule has already distributed over 100,000 plantain suckers and fruit trees to farmers, contributing significantly to the town’s agricultural output. These initiatives, combined with ongoing infrastructure developments, reflect a comprehensive strategy aimed at economic growth and community well-being.
The Bamenda III Council delegation’s visit to Banyo speaks of the collaborative efforts between municipalities to share best practices and foster regional development. Banyo’s transformation is proof to visionary leadership and a commitment to sustainable development.
By Bakah Derick in Banyo
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