Minister Nganou Njoumesi takes stock of road projects in SW
BY ESTHER QUI
The Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi has urged his collaborators to accompany contractors in the sector, in order to ensure the effective execution of public works projects. Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi made this call recently, while rounding up with his three days visit of the road construction sites in the South West Region.
Accompanied by the Secretary of State at the Ministry of Public Works in charge of Roads, the Minister had as objective, the assessment of the quality of road works executed within the framework of the Kumba-Mamfe road construction project underway and several such projects in the South West region.
Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi warned officials of the delegations to desist from doing financial transactions in the office: “Treatment of down payment should be sorted out during control missions and not in your offices. This is because some officials tend to require huge sums from contractors, in the name of taxes. This should stop.”
He equally advised regional delegates during tenders, they should ensure that contractors should clearly illustrate itineraries and diagrams in their files before deliberations for consideration. This he said will go a long way to ensure effective execution of contracts.
Meantime, the Director of Infrastructural Works at the Ministry of Public Works, Guy Daniel Abouna Zoa said the principal objective of this working visit aside of the Kumba-Mamfe road, is the proper maintenance of the roads in South West.
“There is a need for our roads to be accessible for vehicles and persons during the dry as well as the rainy season. That is why we need to, together with contractors who are partners of the administration, come up with plausible solutions to keep our roads in good state always.”
On his part, the regional Delegate of Public Works lauded the minister for doing what his predecessors never did: “This visit will serve as a booster for all stakeholders and also as a warning to lazy officials and contractors. We are certain that road construction works in our region will be more effective and qualitative.”
Some contractors like Group Ani, complained that the road which they had to rehabilitate was in deplorable conditions so they ended up creating a new road. In addition, the funds allocated for the work were meagre, compared to degree of the work.
“I have had to put in my personal funds in order to get the work going. Moreover, due to the current crises plaguing the nation, some of the villagers come out often to hinder our work,” the CEO of Group Ani added.
Though he sympathised with contractors and the problems they face while executing contracts, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi frowned at the absence of some contractors like Etablissement Valentine. He promised that the Government will do well to provide solutions for the difficulties they are facing.
At the end of this working visit, a programme was set for the completion of the construction of the Kumba- Mamfe road contracted in two lots; lot 1 Kumba- Bakwa Supe- Kumbe Bakundu-Nfaitock (103.98 km) and lot 2 Nfaitock-Bachuo-Akagbe (46.880 km); evaluate the state of the road and equipment on the Bachuo-Akagbe-Mamfe-Ekok road since it was temporarily commissioned; as well as assess the activities of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in promoting employment of youths on the Kumba-Mamfe road construction works.