50th Anniversary of Reunification Deadline

On Friday, 6 September 2013 at Unity Palace, the Chairman of the National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the Fiftieth Anniversaries of Independence and Reunification, H.E. Martin BELINGA EBOUTOU,

Minister, Director of the Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, chaired a meeting of chairmen of Central Organizing committees of the NOC and the Chair of the Regional Organizing Committee, Governor of the South-West Region. Also in attendance were members of Government in charge of basic infrastructure (the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Minister of Public Works and the Minister of Water Resources and Energy). The Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, the Minister of Public Contracts and the Head of the Presidential Household Services were also invited on account of their specific roles in the planning and conduct of the event.

In his opening statement, the Chairman of the NOC presented the Head of State's prescriptions to participants, namely: to spare no effort to ensure that the Fiftieth Anniversary of Reunification is celebrated with all the pomp it deserves, in dignity and popular mobilization.

Thereafter, participants listened to reports from the above-mentioned personalities, on the progress of work within their respective spheres.

Their reports indicated that the state of preparations was satisfactory:

- The official grandstand is ready for the event;

- The two State-owned hotels have been completely rehabilitated and are being commissioned;

- There is significant progress in the upgrading and widening of Buea township roads, to the greatest satisfaction of the people who now move around easily;

- The drinking water supply and electricity grid extension are being finalized;

- The rehabilitation of trunk roads serving Buea and neighbouring communities is also nearing completion.

Only the construction of the Fiftieth Anniversary monument and the open-air auditorium are lagging behind. Consequently, the NOC Chairman instructed that every effort be made to ensure that both projects are delivered before the end of November, notably by having several teams work simultaneously, at a faster pace.

In the same vein, participants learnt with satisfaction the progress of rehabilitation works on the Foulassi Teacher Training College and the hall that hosted the Foumban Constitutional Conference in 1961.

Participants also commended the proper organization of conferences and debates that were held in Yaounde, Foulassi and Ngaoundere. These presentations helped to disseminate valuable testimonies on Cameroon's political evolution and rally the national and international community round the upcoming celebrations.

After discussions, the NOC Chairman called on various stakeholders to finalize their work by the end of November.

Lastly, he urged attendees to do more to ensure that the Fiftieth Anniversary of Reunification celebrations meet the expectations of the Head of State and the Cameroonian people.