AFCON 2016: PM inspects construction sites

The Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang yesterday May 3, 2016 visited Yaounde-based projects to assess the level of execution.

The late morning sun in the nation’s capital city yesterday May 3, 2016, welcomed the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang to the Yaounde Military Stadium where sounds of heavy duty machinery filled the air at the first stop-over of his inspection visit to construction sites.

Welcomed by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mkpatt at the construction site of the Military Stadium in the Ngoa-Ekelle neighbourhood, the Prime Minister was briefed on the different four lots of the stadium by the project engineer, Labir Trabelsi. The global execution rate of the project that has four components carried out by four separate enterprises, stood at 29 per cent.

The 2, 000 capacity sports facility comprises of a playground (natural turf), dressing rooms, access roads, parking space, lighting, water and telecommunication. At the Annex 1 and 2 stadiums in the Omnisports neighbourhood, an overview of the project executed by five enterprises was presented to the Prime Minister. Philemon Yang was concerned with water installations which Trabelsi said pipes have been connected to ensure the supply of water.

The last stopover was at the Yaounde Omnisports stadium where Gerard Aimé Djokou, Assistant Project manager, explained to the Prime Minister, who is also the chairman of the National Local Organising Committee for the upcoming 2016 Female African Cup of Nations, the evolution of works which stand at 40 per cent globally. The engineers are upbeat that works will be completed by end of September.

The project for the renovation of the 40,000 capacity Yaounde Omnisports stadium is divided into four lots which Djokou said was advancing in all the sections though minor hitches notably in relation to imported materials. At each site, project engineers assured that all works will be completed well before the start of the competition in November 2016.

It should be recalled that during the last cabinet meeting on Thursday April 28, the Prime Minister exhorted those concerned to speed upthe pace of work. The Prime Minister was accompanied by some cabinet ministers including the Minister of State for Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maïgari, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, the Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Jean Claude Mbwentchou and the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda.