2.4 Per cent Execution Rate for Public Investment Budget in SW

The low per centage achievements are blamed on late award of contracts.

Meeting May 8, 2013, in Buea, the South West Regional Participatory Follow-up Committee of public investment projects for the region has recorded a 2.41 per cent physical execution of 395 operations. The projects are estimated at FCFA 4,702,762,000 from which only 0.50 per cent has been engaged for works.

The Committee Chair, Honourable Samuel Bokwe, led the deliberations and noted that it was a very bad performance especially close to midyear. The committee, however, observed that contracts were awarded late and the context was also different this year with the programme budget and the recent swinging into function of the new Ministry of Public Contracts that centralises all contract awards. Specifically irking to the committee was the fact that the University of Buea is still waiting for their contract board to be appointed so they could begin their projects amounting to FCFA 1.2 billion.

Ivo Eseke Bende, Regional Delegate for the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), explained that of the 395 projects recorded this year in the South West, 42 are regionally awarded contracts estimated at FCFA 880,301,000. The rest are contracted in the various six Divisions. Fako Division has 77 operations amounting to FCFA 1,001,651,000 out of which FCFA 6,510,732 has been engaged with only 0.78 per cent physical execution. Kupe Muanenguba follows suit with FCFA 662,571,000 for 46 projects scoring just 1.06 per cent physical works done on the ground. In that order of budgetary importance, Manyu occupies the third position with FCFA 578,714,000 out of which only FCFA 1,500,000 has been engaged for 57 projects achieving only 3.61 per cent physical execution. Ndian has FCFA 573,600,000 for 64 projects and has engaged nothing to attain an insignificant 0.26 per cent physical work. Lebialem totals FCFA 504,175,000 for its 51 operations, has engaged FCFA 1,500,000 credits and marks a 0.3-per cent actual implementation. Meme Division tails with FCFA 501,750,000 out of which 2.5 per cent has been engaged for 58 projects.

It was, however, warned that contractors should ensure quality work and finish jobs within prescribed periods or face the wrath of the law. Many contracts of last year elapsed into this year as last February's fourth quarter follow-up meeting registered still an 87.12 per cent attainment. Worse still, the rains are around the corner now meaning that many of the contracts may suffer further delays.