To be a contractor and execute projects is irrefutably one of the objectives of most Cameroonians either in the public or private sector. But quite often, the public contracts milieu is studded with fraud, corruption, malpractices and other crooked deals.
At times projects are not only poorly executed, but not executed at all. Moreover, if executed, projects like roads and buildings are shoddy and leave much to be desired. Cognizant of these malpractices, the Public Contracts Regulatory Agency (ARMP) recently organised an interactive workshop under the theme "The execution of initiatives for rapid results in the public contracts sector."
The workshop, which took place at the ARMP Regional Office in Buea, grouped contracting and delegated authorities of Fako and Meme Divisions, chairpersons and members of Tender's Boards of Fako and Meme, chairpersons and members of sub commissions for analysis of bids, amongst others. Opening the workshop, the General Manager of ARMP, Jean Jacques Ndoudoumou, highlighted the mechanisms put in place by government to eradicate corruption like the setting up of CONAC. He said the proper award and follow-up of contracts is a major component in making Cameroon an emerging great nation by 2035 as outlined in the Growth and Employment Strategic Paper (GESP).
The workshop had as key facilitators Obah Roger, Technical Adviser at ARMP, Yaounde and Georges Daniel Moussongui, the Regional Chief of ARMP South West. Participants expressed satisfaction of the initiative which, they said, will not only go a long way in putting some sanity but will help them better master the public contracts sector. "Sanctions in the public contracts domain", "Programming for the award of public contracts", "Procedures manual for the payment of public contracts," "Model tender file works contracts" were some of the series of books, exhibited for the participants.
