Story, Louvier Kindo Tombe
The President of the steering Committee of the presidential plan for the reconstruction and development of the North West and South West Regions have commended the local population for believing in the plan and saluted new partners for financing the plan.
Balungeli Confidence Ebune, was speaking in Bamenda Tuesday 28 March 2023 as he evaluated progress made in the past years.
With the support of the population, and the cordination of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the presidential reconstruction plan has been able to realise a good number of projects across the region that has greatly improved on the livelihoods of the population.
“The Plan contributes to build and rehabilitate what existed that has been destroyed or degraded by the crisis,” Balungeli Confiance said.
“The PPRD is to contribute to the normalization of the way of life of the population and contribute towards Peace.”
Counting achievements
The reconstruction plan has raised alot of hope amongst the population.
In the North West Region, the presidential plan has reconstructed and equipped four women empowerment centres, organised seven socio-cultural events, and supported four media houses.
In infrastructure, 45 projects have been carried out. Of this number, 30 are the rehabilitation and equipment of schools, seven health centres and 8 water points powered by solar.
In the aspect of revitalizing livelihoods, 200 farmers have had their farms rehabilitated, 37 women cooperatives and a host of poultry farmers.
The plan coordinated on the ground by the United Nations Development Program has touched all the seven Divisions of the North West Region with varied impact.
In Bamenda III subdivision, the plan has increased the water supply by constructing additional reservoirs. Other distribution points have also been constructed.
At Full Gospel High School in Nkwen, the schools rejoiced because of the construction of a refectory in their school.
“With an aim to build better, the plan however does not replaces the Public Investment Budget nor does it replace the budget of the various councils,” say Balungeli Confiance Ebune.
The president of the steering committee of the presidential plan for the reconstruction and development used the occasion to call on young persons in the region to continue to join the active forces of the Nation for long lasting peace and development.
North West regional governor, Adolphe Lele LAfrique, during the ceremony in Bamenda saluted the youth for embracing the Head-of-state’s call to leave the bushes and move into the DDR centers. The process has have been largely satisfactory, he noted.
“Many villages were empty, many have returned to open their small scale businesses. In Nkambe the local population has shown gratitude for the multipurpose hall given to them by the Head of State through the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction and Development,” the governor said.
“Though the road to Nkambe is horrible in some parts, the people are fade up and the population of the North West region in general are expecting that the PPRD will help them to rebuild better.”
To skeptics who thought the plan could not work till total normalcy returns, Minister Confiance Ebune, told them that the president had a plan to improve the livelihoods of those affected by the armed conflict in the North West and South West and it is working well.
Speaking in Bamenda Tuesday March 28th, Balungeli Confiance Ebune, said if the plan is getting more attention for the last two years, results achieved have not been effectively communicated.
“This time, the plan wants to be visible to Cameroonians and those financing it,” he said.
Balungeli Confiance disclosed that hierachy has instructed, not only recommended a bottom top approach but also be in constant touch with the beneficiaries for better visibility.
“From the identification of the project to the monitoring through the realization, the population will be main actors in the implementation of the presidential Plan for the reconstruction of these 2 regions.”
With an initial start up budget of 10 billion from the state, the Presidential Plan has received an additional 2.8 billion from the Japanese, 1.5 at the start and 1.3 billion this year.
The plan is hugely supported by the Islamic Development Bank, SABC, the Employers Union of Cameroon, GICAM amongst others.
At the start of the plan, the region was carved out into several zones depending on its peaceful peace nature and accessibility to projects and persons.
The Minister noted that Prime Minister and Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute, had instructed that no matter the zone, lives should be touched as many communities have vomited separatists activities.
Earlier on, Bamenda City Mayor, Paul Achombang was emphatic to Non-Governmental Organisations to stop the usage of the phrase, Justice and Peace.
To him, peace should be the watchword without any connotation attached to it because if the society is peaceful, everything will fall in place.
The presidential plan for the reconstruction and development of the North West and South West Regions was put in place on the 3rd April 2020 and for almost three years, beneficiaries have attested to its effectiveness and vision to build better.
