By George Etoh-Anzah in Bamenda.
Ugly scenes have been produced in Bamenda in the wake of the crisis with many striving to see the town regain its beautiful face. While many have opted for peace campaigns and sensitization owing to the inherent dangers brought about by the ongoing crisis, other stakeholders chiefly of the elitist class lately resorted to summer holiday championships. This had been a rare commodity with gun clashes said to have occupied center stage.
Though these obtained, the dire need to develop the town of Bamenda, chief administrative stool of the Northwest region, has unarguably been advanced by many as a soft spot to improve livelihoods. Road constructions, urban planning suitable for decades amongst many others fit squarely in this design plan.
In her most recent visit (the lone) so to speak, Housing and Urban Development Minister Celestine Ketcha Courtes alongside French ambassador Thierry Marchand announced the sum of 30 billion cfa francs as grants to the Northwest region through the C2D project for the rehabilitation of internal roads. Weeks have gone past the visit and the least inhabitants of Bamenda are expecting is the improvement of her roads, that is if the roads cannot be widened. However, on 12th September 2024,ugly scenes were witnessed by The Horizon Newspaper. Suspected building and construction experts were captured by this reporter filling potholes at the Governors’ junction upstation , C-bend and others along the same stretch of road leading to downtown Bamenda.
After a chat with the actors, they revealed they were authorized by the city mayor. While we cannot independently say with certainty if this supposed “cementing or plastering” is part of the C2D project, it is however so disturbing how such work is done in a town that is said to be increasing by an arithmetic progression. Not only is cement not acceptable for road works owing to its chemical components and strength, it also has questionable durability. Faced with this surprising scene, The Horizon finds it difficult to understand why Bamenda city Mayor would authorize such works in a town where his manifesto cum slogan and action plan against ghost towns and other happenings has been to “make Bamenda an Abu Dhabi prototype”. Is this the Abu Dhabi promised the people of Bamenda? With less than 2 years left in his mandate, a lot remains unanswered. While he considers Bamenda the city of the future many have been quick to question what hopes for the future when even the present is disturbing.
