-Prime Minister, Telcar Cocoa, Regional Assembly and local elites join forces to restore Buea’s legendary cleanliness
By Ikome Christie-Noella Eposi in Buea
In a decisive move to address the escalating waste management crisis, the Buea Council convened a high-profile meeting on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, bringing together government officials, business leaders, traditional rulers, and the civil society to forge a collaborative path forward. Dubbed the “Synergy of Stakeholders to Keep Buea Clean”, the event marked a turning point in efforts to restore the municipality’s reputation as Cameroon’s cleanest city.
A town in crisis
Once celebrated for its pristine streets and “legendary hospitality,” Buea has recently grappled with overwhelming garbage piles along major roads, market entrances, and residential areas. Mayor David Mafani Namange Esq., Mayor of Buea Council painted a grim picture in his opening remarks: “Waste is dumped indiscriminately by the rich, the poor, the educated, and the less educated. This is a collective failure”, he lamented.
The crisis stems from m
ultiple factors, including a surge in population due to internally displaced persons (IDPs) fleeing conflict in neighbouring regions and the underperformance of HYSACAM, the state-contracted waste management company. Mayor Namange revealed that HYSACAM had failed to deliver on key contractual obligations, such as deploying new trucks and trash cans, leaving the town without functional waste collection for weeks.
High-level commitments
Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai, Governor of the South West Region, representing the state and Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute, delivered a stern message: “Buea has lost its identity. We must act now”. He announced a series of interventions, including: Three tricycles donated by the Prime Minister for localised waste collection, A FCFA 10 million donation from Dr. Kate Kanyi-Tometi Fotso, CEO of Telcar Cocoa, with promises of further support, FCFA 5 million from Julius Njungo, a UN diplomat and Buea native, Four tricycles pledged by the South West Regional Assembly (one in 2025, three in 2026).
Governor Bilai emphasised community accountability, directing quarter heads to enforce designated waste disposal points and warning residents against dumping garbage on roads. “If we fail, history will remember us as the generation that let Buea’s legacy crumble,” he declared.
Grassroots action and innovation
The council outlined a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the crisis: Youth Employment: Hiring young people for clean-up campaigns, equipped with wheelbarrows and tools already procured by the council. Plastic Recycling: Collecting waste plastics for resale to industries, with plans to acquire a machine for producing pavement blocks from recycled materials. Cleanest Village Campaign: A monthly competition aawarding FCFA 200,000 to the cleanest neighborhood, fostering community participation and Public-Private Partnerships: Engaging truck owners to assist HYSACAM twice monthly and imposing strict fines for violations (FCFA 25,000 for individuals, FCFA 250,000 for businesses).
Mayor Namange stressed the need for behavioural change: “Landlords must provide trash cans for tenants. Waste should only be disposed of on scheduled collection days.”
Corporate and Community solidarity
Roland Besong Arrey, Sustainability Director at Telcar Cocoa, highlighted the company’s long-standing commitment to Buea through its “Telcar Cocoa Promise” initiative, which focuses on livelihoods, community well-being, and environmental protection. “A clean Buea means healthier lives and economic opportunities,” he said, underscoring the project’s alignment with the firm’s corporate social responsibility goals.
Traditional leaders, including HRH Robert Esuka Endeley, Paramount Chief of Buea, pledged to mobilize their communities, while the Regional Assembly President, Bakoma Elango, called for unity: “This is not just the council’s burden. All hands must be on deck.”
Financial realities and future plans
During the subsequent Budget Orientation Debate, the council’s Finance Officer revealed sobering fiscal challenges. Despite a FCFA 2.9 billion budget for 2024, only 72% of projected revenues were realised, impacting 2025 allocations. However, the council’s recent upgrade from Class 3 to Class 2 status signals growing institutional capacity.
Key priorities for 2025 include: Expanding revenue streams through stricter tax collection, allocating funds for road maintenance and sanitation infrastructure, leveraging partnerships to offset gaps in state support etc.
A call to action
As the meeting concluded, Mayor Namange struck an optimistic note: “This is not just about cleaning Buea, it’s about reclaiming our pride”. With fines, incentives, and community engagement, the council aims to transform resolutions into tangible results.
For residents like Martha Limunga, a shopkeeper in Buea Town, the initiative offers hope. “We’re tired of living in filth. If everyone does their part, we can restore our city’s glory”.