At forum in Abidjan: Works minister makes case for Cameroon, solicits more AfDB funding.

Minister Nganou Djoumessi made the case for Cameroon during the just ended African Development Bank, AfDB, Transport Forum held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

The forum ran from September 18 to 20 in the West African nation.

When Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi took to the rostrum during the forum, he called for an increased in AfDB investment in his country’s road infrastructure. 

Currently, AfDB is Cameroon’s largest technical partner in the sector. The continental body provides 824.8 billion FCFA, which covers 54% of the total road project financing, according to the Ministry of Public Works.

Cameroon’s road portfolio includes nine active projects supported by the AfDB. 

The projects include the Bamenda-Mamfe Corridor Transport Facilitation Programme and the Ketta-Djoum Road Project, which facilitates transport along the Yaoundé-Brazzaville corridor. 

Other key projects include the rehabilitation of the Yaounde-Bafoussam Road and the construction of National Road No. 11 (the Ring Road).

Government is also developing two new projects. The projects include the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Gabon Corridor Transport and Trade Facilitation Project, and Phase four of the Transport Sector Support Programme (PAST-4), which will rebuild sections of the Ngaoundéré-Garoua road network. 

The said projects aim to improve access to basic services, open up rural areas, and stimulate economic growth. 

The minister presented these initiatives during the forum's plenary session on September 18, which focused on sustainable roads, development, and logistics maintenance.

Minister Nganou Djoumessi also emphasised that many of the said roads are part of the Central African Transport Master Plan, designed to enhance trade between countries in the region. 

Some of the routes will also strengthen ties between the Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS and the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, particularly between Cameroon and Nigeria.

Cameroon is currently working on 70 road projects, covering 5,000km of roads either under construction or being rehabilitated. 

The goal for 2024 is to add 869.85 km of new paved roads and improve existing infrastructure. 

The country’s National Development Strategy 2030, SND30 prioritises expanding and strengthening transport infrastructure, as road networks are vital for economic growth, poverty reduction, and regional integration.

The second AfDB Transport Forum, titled: “Africa on the Move: Accelerating Sustainable Transport and Logistics Connectivity”, addressed the continent’s infrastructure and logistics challenges. 

The event took place as AfDB ramped up its investment in the transport sector, dedicating $2.49 billion to transport projects across Africa in 2023, a 36% increase from the previous year.

As Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and its economic output is expected to triple by 2040, the need to expand and modernise the continent’s transport infrastructure is more pressing than ever. 

Transport demand is predicted to grow eightfold by 2040. Cameroon hopes to secure more AfDB investments to further expand its road network.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3238 of Monday September 23, 2024