NW Regional Assembly to unveil ambitious projects at Dev’tForum July.

The disclosure is the substance of a statement which also announced the holding of the North West Development Forum to be staged next month.

Though the exact date of the high-level forum is yet to be fixed, the gathering will be largest to be held in the region. 

It will bring together development stakeholders from the North West Region and beyond.

In his statement addressed to North Westerners, copy of which The Guardian Post obtained, the President of North West Assembly, Prof Fru Angwafo III, wrote: “I hope you're are doing great. I write to inform and invite you to join well-wishers and friends of the North West Region in our self-reliant development mission”.

The celebrated urologist recalled that the North West Regional Assembly had adopted a five-year (2022-2027) “Regional Development Plan, RDP, estimated to cost CFA two thousand, one hundred and fifty-five billion (2155,000,000,000) - a needs-based plan, which some may argue is way too ambitious, given the limited funding available”.

The public health expert turned politician, was quick to state that: “However, this plan is realistic in as far as the determined and hardworking North-Westerners can marshal own resources for their development”.

The renowned University don was blunt that the urgency of the plan is buttressed by deepening poverty, as the North West Region is second poorest today in Cameroon.

He was categorical that: “While the Region is seeking funding from traditional sources, from the State especially, for restructuring its economy through the Regional Industrial/Innovation Park Complex, local financial mobilisation is necessary for community ownership, participation and sustainability”

“There is urgent need to start operations at the Bamenda bonded external customs clearance precinct (MADE) of the Bamenda dry port,” Prof Fru Angwafo III added.

He said the Regional Transformation and Innovation Park will complement MADE at the Regional Market situated at MAGZI in Nkwen, Bamenda III Sub-Division.

“We are therefore presenting the North-West Development and Investment Fund, NOWEDIF with its seven operational agencies for interested citizens to buy-in and to invest therein,” he mentioned, before announcing that: “The RDP, NOWEDIF and MADE projects will be presented at the North West Regional Assembly Development Forum next month, as well as a call for shares and/or donations”.

“As such, I urge you to mobilise citizens of good will, who would like to invest in the Region, to contact us through info@nwra.cm,” he concluded.

The North West Regional Assembly, has been on a development lane since going functional few years ago. The Assembly has engaged a vast number of development projects whose impact is being felt across the region.

Amongst other things, the Regional Assembly is currently constructing the Bamenda Emergency Centre, lodged within the premises of the Bamenda Regional Hospital. 

The project is funded through the North West Regional Assembly Public Investment Budget for the current fiscal year.

The North West Regional Assembly Guest House project is also ongoing. The project is estimated to cost 950,250,000 million FCFA. As of May, this year, the physical execution rate stood at 34%. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3142 of Tuesday June 18, 2024