An inter-ministerial delegation observed over the weekend that supervisory engineers were hardly present while ongoing works remain virtually stagnant.

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It was a stern moment of evaluation when an inter-ministerial delegation from Yaounde descended on Buea and Limbe on January 14, 2016, inspecting sites of ongoing supplementary works for the November, 2016 Female Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

While in Buea, the South West Regional capital, the cabinet Ministers visited the Molyko Stadium and the Buea Municipal Stadium. In Limbe, headquarters of Fako Division, the inter-ministerial delegation explored the CDC Middle Farms Stadium and the Centenary Stadium. All four stadia are training grounds for the Female AFCON event. Equally under the search light of the Ministers were other major accompanying works (notably access roads and parking lots) around the ultra-modern Limbe Omnisports Stadium.

The three Ministers, Bidoung Mkpatt Pierre Ismael (Sports and Physical Education), Mbwentchou Jean Claude (Housing and Urban Development), Abba Sadou (Public Contracts Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic), representatives of the Presidency of the Republic and the Prime Minister’s Office, and South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, were visibly disappointed after visiting the various sites. They observed with indignation that less than 30 per cent of works have been done after consuming over 40 per cent of time as stipulated.

During an evaluation meeting at the Limbe City Council Hall, Minister Bidoung Mkpatt Pierre Ismael gave the executing firms one week to produce emergency plans on how to regain lost time, and for works to be accelerated day and night. He warned contractors of the risk of having their contracts cancelled if the delays persisted. The Minister reiterated that the credibility of the State was at stake as on 22 January, 2016, a delegation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will visit Cameroon to evaluate the country’s readiness to host the football event of this year. Meanwhile, a friendly football encounter between Cameroon and South Africa has been scheduled for March 26, 2016 at the Limbe Omnisports Stadium. Apart from the lagging nature of works, another major worry is the impending rains in March, which will, inevitably, perturb the pace of projects.

Minister Abba Sadou worried aloud that on paper, the contracting firms produced enticing guarantees for great realizations, but output remained replete with complacency and inadequate mobilization. Worst still, supervising engineers were reported to be hardly present at work sites. "Workers are not adequately mobilized and even supervisory engineers are showing signs of complacency. Some came here only when they were informed that the inter-ministerial delegation was arriving," Abba Sadou said.

Governor Okalia Bilai took the rostrum and voiced emphatically: “Since this inter-ministerial delegation came here on December 8, 2015, gave recommendations and left, nothing has changed. The executing firms are not serious. Is it when rains will start in March that they will accelerate work? Some contracts are hidden from the Governor because some of the companies that were unable to realize first jobs, are now involved in second contracts!”

FCFA 52 Billion For 24 Projects

When the engineers of the contracting firms took the floor to explain reasons for the tardiness, none complained of insufficient money. Their explanations were mainly rhetorical as they apportioned blame to others. This infuriated Minister Bidoung Mkpatt who called for patriotism and responsibility. While urging the stakeholders to put all hands on deck for the respect of deadlines, he warned that the nation must not be humiliated.

An expert presentation revealed that there were 24 AFCON 2016 projects in the South West worth FCFA 52 billion. Projects in Buea are worth FCFA 15 billion, while those in Limbe amount to FCFA 37 billion. Before the delegation left for Yaounde, stern instructions were given for standard project site logbooks to be kept to monitor the progress of work.

Peter EFANDE in Limbe

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