Director of PM's Cabinet (Centre), Minister Paul Tasong, right, UNDP Coordinator, left
The Steering Committee of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West regions, PPRD-NW/SW and the project’s National Coordinator have reviewed achievements of the scheme 18 months on.
The key realisations of the project this far was the subject of a Steering Committee meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Yaounde on Friday June 8. It was the fourth session of the Committee.
Balungeli Ebune Confiance, Chairperson of the committee
The chairperson of the Committee, the Minister, Director of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, Bulungeli Ebune Confiance chaired the meeting. This was in the presence of members of government, representative of some diplomatic missions and other organisations that have been supportive of the project.
Cross section of the participants
While hailing stakeholders at the meeting, the Chairperson of the PPRD-NW/SW Steering Committee expressed delight at what has already been done in the two regions. He reiterated that, since the crisis in the two regions, no friend of Cameroon or any country across the globe has endorsed the dream of separatist to split Cameroon. Ebune Confiance restated, all countries have condemned and rejected any attempt to split Cameroon.
After the meeting which was in-camera, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Program, UNDP, in Cameroon, Jean Luc Stalon, faced the press. The UNDP is the implementing partner of the PPRD-NW/SW. Stalon said he was delighted in the gains made since 2020. He said major gains have been made in terms of reviving the economy of the North West and South West regions.
What followed next was a presser organised by the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, Paul Njukang Tasong. Minister Tasong is the National Coordinator of the PPRD-NW/SW.
Achievements
Speaking during the press conference, Minister Paul Tasong disclosed that, in 18 months, 19 water points have been rehabilitated thereby enabling over 174,000 people to have access to potable water. The Coordinator talked of 16 health centres rehabilitated now providing healthcare to 5,451 persons; over 7000 students and teachers now have access to good learning space with some 22 schools rehabilitated.
Over 48,000 persons now being serviced by four bridges also rehabilitated; 8000 lost documents recovered; over 60 insider mediators have been trained to enhance community peace; 12 social and cultural festivals and events staged to revive social cohesion across the North West and South West regions; over 126,500 persons have benefitted from some five community centres already renewed. The figures presented also talked of over 2,402 farmers who have received farm equipment and tools; 40 greenhouses erected to boost food production; 53 stores transformed to revive economic activities; 120 young start-uppers trained, mentored and given funding. He also talked of 47 cooperatives that have received intensive support to enhance agricultural production.
More funding on the way
While restating that President Paul Biya is very committed to see the complete implementation of the project, Minister, Paul Tasong disclosed that, government is sourcing for more funding to ensure her desires for recovery in the two regions are met.
He talked of President Biya having ordered for an extra 10 billion FCFA funding plus a loan of 20 billion FCFA already being negotiated with the Islamic Development Bank.
The National Coordinator also said, the cost of the project has been reviewed upwards to over 100 billion FCFA, up from the previous 89 billion. While urging partners and friends of Cameroon to support the project, Minister Tasong stated, government has the capacity to ensure the North West and South West region recovery totally.
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