Bamenda, Maroua included in phase II of French Regional Capitals Project.

The French diplomat made the disclosure Wednesday, June 12, in Yaounde. He was speaking as he and members of government signed an agreement to effect disbursement of funds.

The Ambassador was accompanied to the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development, MINEPAT, for the signing by the Director of the French Development Agency, AFD, in Yaounde, Madam Virginie Dago.

During the first phase of the project, the Ambassador said only Bafoussam, Bertoua and Garoua, were beneficiaries. 

So, the inclusion of Bamenda and Maroua brings to five the number of regional capitals that are now beneficiaries of the project in Cameroon.

In terms of financial outlay, the Ambassador said Paris will be disbursing 20 million Euros; a circa 13 billion FCFA for the project.

While the money will be used to upgrade sport infrastructures that are already being executed in Bafoussam, Bertoua and Garoua; projects designated for Bamenda and Maroua will be launched. 

The money will also be used to upgrade urban infrastructure in the said towns, construct markets, roads and drainage systems that will help improve access to markets and other facilities, especially roads leading to sporting facilities.

Money from the said allocation will also be used to build a modern motor park in Bertoua, and to beef up water supply serving facilities constructed during the first phase of the project in Garoua.

France also wants to encourage mass participation of Cameroonian women and girls in sports, reason why it is introducing a new project that will make access to sporting equipment easy for, not only the female folk, but Cameroonians in general.

For the project, code named SPORCAP, the French government intends to disburse 10 million Euros; which is about 6.56 billion FCFA. 

The French are insisting that sports contributes enormously towards building social cohesion. 

Therefore, the said projects aim at mobilising Cameroonians to get seriously engaged in sporting activities, especially the disadvantaged group, made up predominantly of women and girls.

The officials disclosed that the first phase of infrastructure project is already impacting more than 1.8 million Cameroonians. 

They aspire to ensure that SPORCAP changes the lifestyle of not less than two million girls, by inclining them to sport.

They hinted that accessibility to sporting facilities and equipment, especially in the hinterlands of the country, constitute a major hindrance to Cameroonians excelling in sports, but especially women and girls who do not just have opportunities to participate in sports.

In a press statement made available to The Guardian Post by the communication unit of the AFD, they disclosed that one Cameroonian lady, aged 21, who benefitted from training facilities built by the AFD in France has been selected to take part at the forth coming Paris Olympic Games, fixed to begin in July. 

What they said at signing ceremony

The French Ambassador told journalists that France believes that active participation in various sporting activities has proven to be the way through which the potentials of many men and women have been uncovered in many parts of the world.

Therefore, Paris is now embarking on a worldwide project that will put both training facilities and sporting equipment at the beck and call of those who aspire to make sport a lifelong career.

For Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, the Proximity Sports Project initiated by France, for which five regional capitals in the country now stand to benefit is just additional to the many other projects Paris is already carrying out in different parts of the country, since the introduction of the Debt Relief and Development Contract, code named C2D.

He described France as a reliable ally of Cameroon, who has always stood by Cameroon in both good and bad times, not only demonstrating, but also contributing enormously to all government’s development-oriented activities.

A case in point is the contribution being made by France towards the realisation of the aspirations enshrined in the SND30, expected to be the spring board to launch Cameroon into emergence by 2035.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3141 of Friday June 14, 2024