Presidential reconstruction plan: PM salutes steady progress in NW.

Dion Ngute drew the conclusion at the end of a three-day working visit to the Region, during which he visited some projects realised within the PPRD. He also saluted the resilience of the population of the North West Region and its collaboration in the realisations this far, despite hurdles.

The Prime Minister also saluted the ground covered since 2020 in peace-building and construction in the two Regions, since the PPRD came into effect.

At the end of the 7th Session of the PPRD Steering Committee, it was an elated Prime Minister who asked stakeholders to remain mobilised to sustain gains made.

Among ministers who accompanied the Prime Minister to Bamenda were;  Gabriel Mbairobe of Agriculture and Rural Development; Prof Nalova Lyonga of Secondary Education; Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, Interim Minister of Mines Industry and Technological Development; Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi of Public Works; Celestine Ketcha Courtes of Housing and Urban Development; Dr Taiga of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries; Mbah Acha Rose of Supreme State Auditv Office; Felix Mbayu, Minister in charge of Relations with Commonwealth at the Ministry of External Relations and Dr Asherie Kilo, Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education. 

The Governors of the North West and South West Regions; Adolphe Lele Lafrique and Okalia Bilai respectively; Senators, Members of Parliament, Mayors, Religious and Traditional Rulers, among others also attended the meetings.

Prime Minister on ground covered

According to the Prime Minister, his visit to Bamenda was imperative.

“…I announced the resumption of rehabilitation works on the Babadjou-Bamenda Road and the beginning of construction of the Ring Road. Today, the rehabilitation project is a reality, facilitating movements from the West to the North West Regions, while works on the Ring Road are ongoing,” Dion Ngute said.

He noted that the recently inaugurated gas plant in Bamenda is a big project to solve the problem of shortage of gas in the North West Region and improve the living conditions of the population.

On the difficult road situation of Bamenda, the PM said: “I am announcing the imminent start of rehabilitation works on the Bamenda city roads. This work will solve the urban mobility problem facing the residents of Bamenda”. 

“With support of the World Bank and the French Development Agency, the authorities are committed to changing the face of the North West Regional capital, and improving the living conditions of the people,” the PM disclosed.

The Prime Minister also revealed that more countries are coming in to partner with the government to see how to assist in the peace building process. 

This, he said, is thanks to the efforts of the Head of State, who followed the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue, by instructing the implementation of the PPRD.

“Five years later, the results of the recovery phase speak for themselves. Indeed, the rehabilitation of basic social infrastructure has improved, access to education for nearly 30,000 students, access to healthcare for more than 15,000 patients per month, access to drinking water for more than 300,000 people. Regarding the reconstruction and development phase, major road projects are currently going on in both Regions,” the PM added.

Dion Ngute enjoined the PPRD team, authorities and the population to double their efforts to meet the needs of the population.

He declared that: “I have put in place a new organic framework, which has proposed the way for a new approach for the implementation of the PPRD…it is hoped that ownership of the projects by the beneficiaries, through their representatives, will ensure better goals and enhance protection”.

The Prime Minister also commended the efforts of communities that have stood against Monday ghost towns. He frowned at those who are still promoting the phenomenon.

Visit to projects 

Dion Ngute also visited some projects, realised under the PPRD. These included the St. Joseph Nursing and Primary school, laid the foundation stone for the construction of 4.7km of the University of Bamenda fence, the constructed Mile Four Bridge in Nkwen, commissioned the Ntaafi Sports Complex, inspected works on the Welcome to Bamenda stretch, Santa Women Empowerment Centre, among others.

Discussions during session

During the session, there was a review and assessment of projects realised, and those ongoing under the PPRD in the North West Region, as at June 30, 2025.

The President of the PPRD Steering Committee, Paul Njukang Tasong, who is also Minister Delegate to the Minister the Economy, Planning and Regional Development in Charge of Planning, updated the session on the evolution of the socioeconomic situation in the North West and South West Regions, and the 2025 annual work plan. 

Projects realised under PPRD

Minister Tasong revealed that the initiative has boosted recovery in both North West and South West Regions, through social cohesion, rehabilitation of basic infrastructure, and local economic revitalisation.

Amongst the main achievements of the recovery phase, Minister Tasong said, as at June 30, 2025, about 800 persons in the North West and South Regions have been supported through the issuance of lost documents in the aspect of strengthening social cohesion. He said 88 socio-cultural events have been organised across various Subdivisions in the North West and South West Regions, to grow community trust and understanding. 

Most of these events, he said, were organised in the North West Region, by the implementing partner, the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

He added that 14 community-based women empowerment centres have been rehabilitated and equipped across both Regions, under the PPRD. 

Some of the centres, he said, include the Santa Women Empowerment Centre.

Tasong said 120 schools have been rehabilitated across both Regions. 

Still in the North West Region, he mentioned the Cameroon Baptist Convention School Complex, Islamic Nursery and Primary School Old Town, Catholic Nursery and Primary School Ngomgham among others.

In the domain of health, he disclosed that at least 63 health facilities have been rehabilitated in both Regions.

The report also revealed that among the gains of the PPRD, there is the rehabilitation of 50 water points in both Regions.

In the North West Region, the PPRD Steering Committee Chairperson mentioned the rehabilitation of the Bamenda III Council.

Still in terms of realisation, he said eight bridges have been rehabilitated while 22 roads are under reconstruction. 

Amongst some of the roads, Tasong talked about the Babadjou-Bamenda road at 80 billion FCFA, the Bamenda Ring Road at over 89 billion FCFA and the Bamenda Inter-urban Crossing costing over 60 billion FCFA.

According to Minister Tasong, some of the projects realised were done, thanks to a concrete impact assessment of the crisis, done in a low profile strategy. 

He added that, as at now, no one has been killed as a result of the projects, and no project has been destroyed.

2025 annual work plan

The Steering Committee, Tasong said, has outlined some projects to be realised in 2025 and in the future. 

Amongst them, he mentioned the completion of the Welcome to Bamenda-Ecole de Champion road, completion of Babadjou-Bamenda road and start of works on the Bamenda Intra-urban roads.

He said there will be the rehabilitation of some major roads to link Divisions, such as Menchum, Momo and others.

In the domain of agriculture, corporations such as the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, PALMOL, and the Upper-Nun Valley Development Authority, UNVDA, he said, have been identified as key areas to be revitalised.

To add to its 2025 prospects, the President of the Steering Committee also revealed that focus will equally be on the reconstruction of basic social services in both Regions.

In the North West Region, it was noted that implementing partners like the North West Development Authority, MIDENO; the North West Regional Assembly, Babessi Council, Mbengwi Council, Batibo Council are among key areas of focus this year.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3496 of Monday July 07, 2025