Bamenda stadium still waiting for caterpillars

On Wednesday April 20, 2016, North West Governor Adolph Lele L’afrique Tchoffo Deben in the presence of the president of FECAFOOT, Tombi A Roko Sidiki laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 2500 sitter Olympic stadium in the city of Bamenda.

The contractor of the project Prime Potomac Global was given a deadline of six months to execute the project. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the company Ben Modo, agreed to these terms and promised in the presences of NW Governor and FECAFOOT officials likewise the people of the North West Region, that his company had the competence to execute the project within the stipulated time.

No sooner did the lay the foundation stone did some conspiracy theorists cast doubts on the veracity of the promise of the long awaited stadium and more importantly the time frame that was given for the execution of the project.

One month after the foundation stone was laid, there is ample reason to believe in the conspiracy theorists as work is yet to begin in the project site that is expected to gallop some FCFA 780 million.

When The Median visited the project site to appraise the level of work done so far, it was realized that not only was the place deserted but the machinery and personnel that were deployed to colour the laying of the foundation stone were no longer there.

According to a worker who was contracted to work in the project who spoke to The Median on condition of anonymity, the caterpillar that was used during the laying of the foundation stone belonged to the Bamenda City Council and had long been returned to them.

He however revealed that the Equipment meant for the construction of the stadium imported from Europe were soon to be in Bamenda for effective work to start. He also revealed that the project’s chief engineer Mrs Asong was in Yaounde to finalize the paper work for the work to start effectively.

Despite these assurances, skeptics are yet to believe that the 2500 sitter Olympic stadium in the city of Bamenda will be a reality. To them, it will be another “promise and fail” project that will only remain in paper.

If realized, the stadium will host several sporting disciplines amongst them athletics, football, handball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, a restaurant, dressing rooms for teams, a media center and a transmission room. The facility will also replace the old structure which has been there since 1960s with no rehabilitation.

If not realized, the Cameroon government will again go down memory lane as a government that careless about the people of Bamenda judging from the fact that more than three decades it promised Bamenda people a ring road, it is yet to become reality.