By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey signed partnership agreements with Mayors of 7 municipalities in the country for the promotion of labour intensive approaches in roads and social houses works in their localities.
The agreements were signed last February 29, 2024 at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development in Yaounde in the presence of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development in charge of Planning, Paul Tasong among others.
The Minister signed and exchanged documents with the Mayor of Tubah in the North West region, Martin Tanjong, the Mayor of Fokoue in the West region, Demenou Adrienne Paule, the Mayor of Touroua in the North region, Hamadou Sanda, the Mayor of Nkongsamba II in the Littoral, Samen Patrick, the Mayor of Ngaoundere III, Mohamadou Bassirou, the Mayor of Nitoukou, Enanga nee Osianembom Angeline and the Mayor of Kribi I in the South region, Ndoni Keller Yvediyo Augustine.
Speaking on behalf of the 7 Mayors, the Mayor of Fokoue, Demenou Adrienne Paule thanked government for choosing them and promised to use labour intensive approach in the realization of the said projects.
The Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Alamine Ousmane Mey said “the realization of demonstrative projects through the labour intensive approaches better known as HIMO approach is part of government’s desire and determination to achieve the essential objectives of our inclusive development process. HIMO approach contributes to the massive creation of jobs for youths and the distribution of income to a greater number of our citizens.”
Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey added that “the presidential circular of last August 23, 2023 is to provide endogenous response to the crucial problems of unemployment, poverty and infrastructure deficit faced by our local and regional authorities and thus, the population.”
He later explained that “the use of labour intensive approaches for the construction of basic infrastructure is rightly a major, transformative governmental option and certain legal instruments recall their relevance and advantages.”
Projects to be carried out within this framework have already been subjected to preliminary studies and shall cost some FCFA 2.251.369.332. More than 1,520 direct jobs are expected to be created for Cameroonian youths.
The ministry undertook since 2013 infrastructures with labour based approach with councils and 270 internally displaced worked in several regions for instance.
The Minister concluded that “while waiting for a more large deployment of this labour based approach, we decided to start working with 7 councils for the rehabilitation and maintenance of earth roads, the construction of social housing and stores.”