Menchum Hydroelectric Project Imminent

Announced by President Paul Biya during his visit to the North West Region in December 2010 on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Armed Forces, work on the Menchum Hydroelectric Project will soon take off in line with government's commitment to stabilise energy supply in the country. The Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi told development stakeholders in Bamenda on August 28, 2012 that studies on the project have been completed and work is expected to start anytime soon.

Minister Djoumessi who was on a working visit to Bamenda revealed that gone are the days when contracts are awarded in Yaounde for projects to be executed in the Regions. He acknowledged that contracts awarded in Yaounde suffer delays, poor quality and other speed brakes in execution deployed by most follow up committee for public investment projects. He therefore called on all to report cases of poorly executed projects to their state counsel as these are cases of embezzlement.

He gave a one week deadline for reports of all poorly executed projects to be forwarded to his office for necessary action. He equally re-assured the population that works on the first stretch of the ring road is ongoing. He said the road has been divided in to portions to ease work; Ndop- Kumbo; 60.5 km, Kumbo-Nkambe, 69.5 km, Nkambe-Wum; 108 km and Wum-Bamenda-Ndop; 120km. Moves, he added, are underway for the continuation on the other stretches.

All four papers that where presented during the Minister's meeting with North West development actors proposed ways on which the government will better develop the country as well as moves already made. Worries raised during the question and answer session were addressed by the Minister adding that those he could not handle will be channeled to the various hierarchy. The Government Delegate to the Bamenda City council, Ndumu Nji Vincent, was available to present the plight of the people of Bamenda.