The Prime Minister, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, who doubles as supervisor of the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development for Northwest and Southwest regions (PPRD-NW/SW), has acknowledged that progress is being made in rebuilding the two regions.
He was speaking in Buea on Friday, May 30, following a tour to some of the projects in Ombe and Buea – all in Fako Division of the Southwest Region. At Islamic Secondary School located in Buea Town where he rounded off the tour, the PM was satisfied with the execution of the projects. He however was optimistic that more development with follow. The tour of the PM came after the cheering of the 6th steering committee of the PPRD at Buea Mountain Hotel.
The steering committee was able to highlight the numerous projects that have been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
The project includes the strengthening of social cohesion, which includes supporting 800 people in the issuance of lost documents; 88 socio-cultural activities; and community-based women centres rehabilitated and equipped, among others.
In the domain of basic infrastructures, the PPRD-NW/SW has rehabilitated 99 schools, 39 health facilities and 4 bridges, among others.
Aside from these mentioned projects, the PPRD realised part of the ring road which is under construction, the Bamenda-Babadjou road and the Kumba-Ekondo-Titi road.
The meeting brought some of the stakeholders involved in the plan from both the Southwest and Northwest.
Estimated at FCFA 2,500 billion, it aims to bring peace, restore dignity in the two regions, upgrade infrastructure and social facilities and prepare ground for reconstruction and development.
It is structured into three phases, which are the recovery phase (which has 64.65 percent realisation in infrastructure, 26.93 percent for livelihoods and 09.29 percent for social cohesion), the reconstruction phase and the development phase.
Under reconstruction, it has funded the Cameroon Development Corporation with FCFA 20 billion for payment of salaries and supported the buying of machines for the Upper Noun Valley Development Authority, UNVDA, among others.
The plan was set up to rebuild the economy of the Northwest and Southwest Regions affected by an ongoing conflict for separation.
In 2016, a crisis broke out in Cameroon English regions and escalated into an armed conflict. Over 6,000 have died, according to the UN, and billions of properties damaged while many have been rendered refugees internally and externally.
Following the 6th steering committee of the plan to rebuild the regions, Paul Tasong, president of the plan, said they are working carefully to avoid loss of life.
“That is why we are not going into areas where the conflict is going on. We don’t go in when it is hot. We come in only when it is soft,” he told reporters during a press conference.
Tasong admitted that the plan has witnessed challenges but added that much progress is being made.
Funding remains much of a bigger challenge; however, Tasong is hopeful that more and more funding partners will come in.
By Andrew Nsoseka & Njodzeka Danhatu