October 12 poll: Using roads to woo voters.

As presidential election campaigns are on the horizon, and given the enlightenment of voters, thanks to an increasing number of educated voters and the media, the classic tale of the "Campaign Street" in Buea can no longer be used as The Emperor's New Clothes.

In the tale of The Emperor's New Clothes, Hans Christian Anderson illustrates how easily people can be fooled by political propaganda, even when they know something is not true.

In one of the campaigns, the CPDM regime brought a bulldozer and kept in a popular street in Buea that was almost impassible, announcing construction to start soon. 

The equipment was taken away after the said election. 

Forced by pressure and shame, the street was eventually tarred, after many years. 

On the eve of this year’s presidential election, a plethora of promises and excuses are flying in hot air, as well as emergency cosmetic works. 

The minister of public works has been touring the country, as never before, promising to fix bumpy roads, some with small ponds, which have become the ignominy of a nation.

His ministry, in a statement this week, announced that "Public Works Minister Vows Quick Action on Bad Roads in the South West Region".

The statement noted that the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, has assured maintenance works in Buea:

Bekoko-Mutengene-Bolifamba...while visiting the Coastal Region.

Shocked at the state of the roads in the South West Regional capital, Buea, the minister said: "We have instructed that work should start immediately. I believe if my team starts to work this afternoon, by next week, I hope the situation will improve".

He was informed by the South West Governor, Okala Bilai, who listened to his assurances, that the stretch to Muea "is worst". Equinoxe Television, on the beat, reported of a "river running through the middle of the road".

The bad roads are not only "completely shocking" as the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Nalova Lyonga, said of those in Bamenda, but will be hairsplitting for the regime to defend in a presidential campaign promising to do what it has not done in 43 years.

Minister Nalova, who is also leader of the CPDM delegation to Fako, is not the only regime acolyte "completely shocked" by the state of roads. 

Senator Mbella Moki, also from Buea, has said so too. So has the Delegate General of National Security, Martin Mbarga Nguele. 

That should explain the "urgency" to repair the roads, even using laterite, instead of tar. 

Minister Djoumessi, who was in the field recently, ended his final leg of his "working visit" last Wednesday, in the West Region.   

Accompanied by the Governor of the West Region, he inspected the Bafang-Nkondjock road axis, where he identified the obstacles hindering the completion of the work.

His delegation also visited the Bakotcha agricultural basin development site to assess the progress of the ongoing road work. 

But why such a hectic tour now, especially in the heart of rainy season, when road construction normally doesn't often take place?

The Guardian Post understands that the Prime Minister, Head of Government, will launch President Paul Biya's South West Regional campaign in Buea. 

He will as usual be accompanied by other members of his government, who should not have a rough ride. Bad roads have become the Achilles heel of the Biya regime causing road accidents with heavy fatalities and stagnation in economic development.

Following scathing criticisms of roads in the country, the minister early this month held a press conference in Yaounde, where he said as at December 31, last year, Cameroon had 10,575 km of tarred roads.

“Our national strategy for the 2020-2030 period gives the Ministry of Public Works the task of asphalting 6,000 km of roads. At the intermediate stage, we have achieved 69%, with a satisfaction rate of around 24%. In other words, we are behind schedule, but that' s understandable,” he said.

He attributed the failed performance to "less finances. This is understandable, given the cash flow pressures. When we approach donors, particularly multilateral donors, it takes a long time to put the funding in place,” he explained.

He added that: “We should also note the consequences of the security crises we are experiencing in our country. If it weren't for terrorism, we would no longer be talking about the Mora- Dabanga-Kousseri road or the Babadjou-Bamenda road, even though work is progressing”.

He said further that security issues and the consequences of climate change are having a devastating effect on the roads.

“...there is need for mobilisation of appropriate, adequate and timely funding. These are the limitations that need to be highlighted, bearing in mind that a road has a lifespan," he detailed. 

The other excuse he gave was the weather. “It rains a lot these days, and as a result, the hydraulic structures need to be sized to capture the quantities of water, and this has a cost."

The minister has rightly diagnosed the causes of dilapidated roads as lack of funding, weather and "terrorism". The main cause which is cash is attributed to "donors".

But does Cameroon, with all its abundant resources, need to beg money to construct good roads?

Why be in a mad rush to repair roads that do not need foreign donations, only when it is time for campaign?

Can all the people be fooled all the time with the same groupthink in 43 years with the same excuses and same failed results?

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3514 of Friday July 25, 2025