PM checks stadia ahead of CAF delegation’s visit

Prime Minister Philemon Yang has given what he termed, “firm instructions” for everything possible to be done to ensure the completion of all ongoing works aimed at enabling Cameroon to host the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations that kicks off on November 19.

PM Yang, who is also the Head of an Inter-ministerial Committee in charge of the overseeing preparations towards the November tournament, was in Limbe and Buea recently, to inspect the level of work, so far, by all the contractors of the different on-going projects for the hosting of the tournament.

“Not all the projects have been completed. That is why we have given firm instructions, not only to the contracting firms, but to all other authorities that are charged with the control of these projects,” Yang said.

The PM’s outing to the different projects sites both in Yaounde and the Southwest (Buea and Limbe) was prompted by the fact that a Delegation of CAF inspectors is being expected in the country from Monday, July 25.

The CAF delegation shall inspect all the facilities in Yaounde, Buea and Limbe for the hosting of Africa’s best female footballers, come November 19.

From a global view, though all the work is not yet complete, facts from contractors on the different sites showed that the work has considerably advanced and it’s waiting just for finishing.

The Omnisport Stadium in Limbe is nearly set except for the roofing of the main grand stand that has to be completed. The work in the four training pitches (two in Buea and two in Limbe)plus a fifth training pitch besides the Omnisport Stadium at Ngeme,are all above 80 percent done. The construction of 48 new hotel rooms at the Atlantic Beach Hotel in Limbe is complete. Work atMountain Hotel and Parliamentarian Flats in Bueais also near finishing points.

“We are totally satisfied by all that we have seen,” Yang said. “I, therefore, use this opportunity to congratulate all those who have been involved with these works,” Yang added.

Yang’s declaration to the press came after a two-hour working session that he held in camera, with all the contractors; the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Pierre Ismael Bidoung Mpkwatt; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Jean Claude Mbwentchou; the Minister of Tourism, Bello Bouba and the Minister of Public Contracts. The President of FECAFOOT, Tombi ? Roko Sidiki and his Vice, Senator Charles MbellaMoki, were also present.

The Post gathered that the PM, especially, instructed the Minister of Sports to ensure that a contract for the maintenance of the Limbe pitch is signed between the Government and the Chinese company that constructed it.

It was observed that the maintenance of the pitch to give it uniform greenery has not been effective, owing to the fact that the Government had not yet committed the company by way of a contract for the maintenance of the pitch.

Meantime, the PM also instructed that, Cameroonians who have already been trained to carry on with the work of maintaining the pitches when the Chinese must have packed off, be deployed.