Adamawa seeks 20 billion FCFA for projects

The regional branch of Communes and United towns of Cameroon, popularly known as CVUC, of Adamawa have appealed for a 20 billion FCFA to fund a number of projects in the town.

The first edition of the regional Conference of presentation and validation of mature projects in the region opened yesterday at Ngaoundéré seemed very promising. 16 of 21 communes in the Adamawa had 300 projects.

They are seeking financing. The regional office of CVUC, led by Abbo Aboubakar, Mayor of Belel, invited the decentralized services of the State, Feicom, PNDP, and other donors at the conference themed: "Communes and United towns of Adamawa, partners of the State for the actual emergence of Cameroon by the year 2035.

Just after the opening ceremony of the Conference chaired by the region's Governor, Abakar Ahamat, the first good news was announced. It was voiced by Camille Akoa, DG of Feicom, who made the trip from Ngaoundéré.

The Special Equipment Fund and Inter-Communal Intervention (Feicom), offers 75 million to each of the 16 communes having mounted projects related to water and education for the year 2016. Accuracy: these funds are not exclusive. Feicom will continue to fund all projects.

During these meetings run by mayors, deputies, senators, traditional leaders and civil society, the potentials and resources of the region were explored.

Presentations revealed disturbing paradoxes. "Adamawa is the region which requires the least amount of funding. It has the most problems in the execution of projects,” said Camille Akoa appealing to the municipal magistrates for the preparation of records of tendering of projects for 2016.

Two emblematic cases of badly-executed projects were cited. The DG of the Feicom refers to a hangar at the Mbe market. Its roof was swept before the reception of the works. The Hotel de Ville of Meiganga already has cracks only a few years after its commissioning.

The Governor of the region, who welcomed the Organization of this conference, suggested that other achievements have pathologies and workmanship throughout the region. He went further to state that many sites are abandoned with the complicity of the mayors! One thing is to find funding; another is to use it efficiently for the well-being of the people.

The conference benefits from the expertise of the regional delegation of the Ministry of Economy, Planning and Land-Use. Mbelessa Auberlin d’Abdou, the regional Commissioner, has coordinated a multi-sectoral task force.

The water, energy, health, education and rural roads sectors are affected by 300 projects. The volume of funding is estimated at 20 billion. The avenues of financing are being explored. The State, Feicom, PNDP, partners in development, decentralised cooperation, have been targeted by 21 communes in the region.

The prefects of the five departments of the region, the delegate of the Government with the Ngaoundéré Urban community, participated actively in this conference.