By Sheron Tita
The Islamic Development Bank, through its Field representative for Cameroon, Mohamadou Awal, has commended UNDP for the significant strides recorded in the reconstruction of the South West Region, under the presidential plan for the reconstruction of the North West and South West Regions.
Impressed with the significant strides recorded in domains of infrastructure, Social cohesion and livelihood, he told the press: “My impression is good. I saw the presentation relating to all the infrastructure, Social Cohesion, Economic development and it is in progress. I think we are completing our project on time. That is why we are happy to meet the population, the final beneficiaries of this important project for the Government.”
He further expressed words of gratitude to UNDP as implementing partner for the significant strides recorded in the reconstruction of the two English speaking regions of Cameroon.
“These two regions; Northwest and Southwest, they did a fantastic job, we are happy for that. We thank this team, we are going to continue with them”, he noted
He made the positive remarks during mid-term Review of the Islamic Development Bank Support to the PPRD, last Thursday January, 30th, 2025, in the presence of the representative of the Secretary General of the Southwest Governor’s office, Acha Gilbert Nkwenti, the national coordinator of the PPRD, Motuba Tamanjong, and others.
It is worth noting that for the reconstruction of the Southwest Region, the sum of 32.5 million Euros was allocated by the Islamic Development Bank, to its implementation partners UNDP for the reconstruction of the Southwest Region, under the PPRD on May 12th, 2023.
According to reports presented by UNDP in the mid-term Review in the domain of infrastructure reconstruction, 56 schools were reconstructed, together with 24 health facilities, 21 water points, 2 bridges, and 5 community centers.
Meanwhile in the domain of Economic Revitalisation; 475 farms, 50 farm cooperatives were strengthened, 221 agro-pastoral initiatives supported, 12 markets reconstructed, 150 small businesses revived.
Also in the domains of Social cohesion and Peace Building: 11 Socio cultural activities ( peace dialogues, sports, festivals) were conducted, 7 Youth and Women empowerment centers operationalized.
In Lebialem, precisely at Alou, under the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction of the Northwest and Southwest Regions, 4 markets were rehabilitated, while in Ndian Division, at Ekondotiti 2 Markets were rehabilitated, and in Meme, 2 Markets were rehabilitated in Konye.
In the domain of community women’s centers, 2 community women centers, were reconstructed in Ndian Division, precisely in Mundemba and Kupe Muanenguba, in Nguti.
Ekenne Samuel, Mayor of Mundemba, for his part, added his voice to that of the field representative of Islamic Bank for Cameroon.
He told the press: “ We have two projects so far from the Islamic Development Bank through the PPRD. The first one is the Breakthrough Secondary which has been vandalized. It has been rehabilitated to completion and we were there to receive it. As of now there are many students who are
Against denunciations by some consumer associations that the rice was unfit for consumers of humans but only good enough for animal consumption, the Trade Minister went fire-fighting. He said the Big Joe brand of rice on promotional sale in some cities for 15,000 FCFA per 50 kg is of good quality.
He said it is part of the ministry of trade’s strategy to fight the cost of living in the country.
Rice is a staple for most Cameroonian households.
But since last year, its prices have risen, with some brands selling for as much as 50,000 FCFA per 50 kg.
Owing to complaints of lack of purchasing power, the Minister of Trade resorted to buying Big Joe, among other commodities, to sell to locals at reduced prices.
However, the ministry has been criticised for politicising the process as people in some places were asked to deposit ID card photocopies before buying.
Recently, rumours started circulating that the particular rice being sold is of poor quality.
The people who fronted the claims on TV programs however did not give evidence to back up their points.
Minister MbargaAtangana stated that the rice has all the necessary documentation and is of good quality, contrary to the rumours circulating on social media.
The Minister in a press release on Wednesday, January 29 said “this rice, imported regularly and landed at the Port of Kribi, has all the required documentation in this area, both in terms of product quality and its compliance with the standard. It can therefore, on this basis, be consumed with complete peace of mind.”
The intention of the government, he said, was to ensure the well-being of populations and to support the purchasing power of consumers, particularly those most exposed to erratic and speculative fluctuations in the prices of consumer goods, which spare no country, or almost, in the world.
To him, the promotional sales so far are meeting with great popular success, to the great displeasure of the inveterate detractors of any initiative of the Public Authorities, by targeting big Joe rice.
The minister stated that legal actions could follow these fake claims.
“It is up to its promoter to take all necessary legal action against the opponents of said product and to provide, at the first request, the documents in its possession attesting to the quality of the product and its strict compliance with the requirements of the laws and regulations in force.” he said.
