Abandoned projects infuriate Bakassi mayors

The President of the Southwest Mayors Association and Mayor of Kumbo Abedimo, Patrick Aboko, has declared that the Bakassi Peninsula in Ndian Division is the best place where Public Investment Projects, PIP, in Cameroon can effectively be executed.

Aboko was speaking in Kumba recently, during a Regional Coordination Meeting for the follow-up of PIP for the Southwest, presided at by Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai.

According to the Mayor, there is no proper explanation why projects in the area are hardly executed. The Mayor said the passable road network from Kumba to Mundemba and the sea route to Bakassi debunk any claim that bad roads deter contractors from executing projects earmarked for the Division.

Aboko told the Governor to warn contractors to stop using the roads as an excuse to frustrate the population of Bakassi on meaning development.

The Mayor cited the Mundemba -Issangele-Akwa road as a project that is long overdue. He suggested that the project be taken from the military and handed over to a civilian contractor who can deliver the goods.

Another project that angered the Mayor, is an FCFA 500-million Akwa water project, which was started some years back but has failed to materialise till date.

Projects such as the Government Technical School, Akwa, remain uncompleted, with the equipment abandoned at the Southwest Regional Delegation of Secondary Education in Buea.

The Chair of Southwest Mayors disclosed that enrolment into the Technical School in Akwa has remained discouraging because the close to FCFA 1 billion worth school equipment are “hanging somewhere in Buea."

To Aboko, Government cannot be talking about technical education without equipment.

Grace Etongo, Mayor of Bamusso Council said contractors often amplify reasons why projects in Bakassi are abandoned.

Reacting to the situation, Francis Ngundu, Southwest Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, said he was only instructed to lodge equipments at his delegation. Ngundu explained that, the equipment among which is a heavy duty generator, have been kept in his Delegation for two and a half months.

The Delegate said he refused signing any paper concerning the equipment. In reaction, the Governor announced that hierarchy is already answering questions concerning the Mundemba -Isangele- Akwa road.

Okalia said road construction is better with the military than a civilian company, given the level of order and respect that prevails within the military.

On the Akwa Technical School problem, Governor Okalia ordered for the equipment to be transported to the school with immediate effect.

Verdict On HTTTC Crisis Awaited Responding to worries from traditional rulers and stakeholders, Governor Okalia admitted being aware of the current crisis rocking the entrance examination into the Higher Technical Teachers’ Training College, HTTTC, Kumba.

The Chief Executive of the Region told the audience that a verdict is still being awaited from the Minister of Higher Education on the issue. Okalia admitted having held a recent meeting with Fame Ndongo, during which, the issue was thoroughly examined.

He, however, said the Higher Education family was not beyond his grip but vowed that the current disorder cannot continue when he is still in charge of the Region. “It is either I go back to my village or some other person will go back to his or her village because of the problem,” Okalia stated.