Bamenda II, Fundong, best managed councils - Minister

The Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, (MINADT) Rene Emmanuel Sadi, has hailed Bamenda II and Fundong Councils as the best managed in the Northwest. Mayor Fidelis Balick Awa of Bamenda II and Denis Ndang Awoh of Fundong, received the encomiums for transparency and good governance as Rene Sadi inaugurated the new town halls of the two Councils as well as the new SDO’s office in Boyo, Thursday, April 18. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the projects, saying the amounts spent are far above what was provided by FIECOM. “I have gone round inaugurating Council town halls but this imposing structure of Bamenda I Council in particular has marveled me and I thank Mayor Balick and his executive for putting to good use State funds from FIECOM. This is an example for other Councils to emulate. Before coming here, I was in Fundong where I carried out a similar exercise and my impression about the execution of all the projects is quite positive,” said the Minister. Sadi said there are three lessons that come to mind in carrying out this ritual of inaugurating town halls; proof that decentralisation is on course, infrastructural development a reality and political maturity of Cameroonians during reception of these projects. While warning against abusive use of the new structures, the Minister announced the construction of SDO’s offices in Donga Mantung and Ngoketunjia next year. In the same vein, the town halls of Wum and Njinikom will soon be realised. The Minister assured the SDO of Boyo, Menchum and Donga Mantung that Government will embark on constructing new homes for them. He equally mentioned the ongoing project of the new Northwest Governor’s office and residence where work is moving at snail speed. Problems For his part, Mayor Balick called on the Minister to cause the tarring of the road to the new Council office, place Mayors and Councillors on salaries, and create Bamenda IV Council to take care of villages like Chomba, Nsongwa and Mbatu. He equally asked for the increase in the number of Councillors from 31 to 42 and for the Minister to clearly define administrative borders between the Bamenda City Council and the Subdivisional Councils. Balick cried out that PNDP, a World Bank and Cameroon Government structure, has ignored Bamenda II and III Councils, when it comes to sponsoring projects and training. Meanwhile, the Mayor of Fundong, a senior Engineer, who has regularised staff salaries among other things, asked for funds to fence the SDO’s office and the new hall. The Mayor said this year, the Public Investment Budget for Boyo Division stands at FCFA 627 million, with a further FCFA 288 million to be made available in the days ahead. “We are grateful that even the famous Fundong-Konene-Fonfuka road linking Fundong to Fonfuka, the headquarters of Bum Subdivision, has initial allocation of FCFA 250 million,” said Mayor Ndang Awoh. He added; “we are confident that in the near future, our brothers of Bum Subdivision will not have to pass through four Divisions to get to the headquarters of their Division.” The General Manager of the Council Support Fund, FIECOM, Philip Camille Akoa, said he was highly satisfied with the projects executed by Northwest contractors. He said Government has so far pumped FCFA 13 billion into some 119 projects in the Region with Mezam Division alone boasting of 24 of these projects. The FEICOM General Manager said the town halls of Jakiri, Bebessi and Wum will be constructed very soon. The Fundong Council Hall was constructed at the cost of FCFA 207 million; the SDO’s office, FCFA, 230 million, and Bamenda II Council at FCFA 180 million.