West Region: Manki-Mape bridge projects stall

Work on the Manki-Mape Bridge in the Noun Division of the West Region is yet to convince the control mission and the contracting authority (Ministry of Public Works). The project control mission and contractor on March 14, 2016, briefed the Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi and his Secretary of State, Louis Max Ayina Ohandja, in the company of West Governor, Awa Fonka Augustine, during an evaluation mission to the project site.

They listed occupation by the riverine population of about 5-6 km of earmarked access ways because of the non-payment of compensation. The non-payment of project progress bills, coupled with some technical hitches, were also blamed for retarding work. The Minister urged the Senior Divisional Officer for Noun to examine the complaints of the aggrieved people with a view to compensating them. He challenged the Mayor and traditional leaders of Magba to sensitise the population on the need to quit the areas to be affected by the road.

Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi said in as much as government wanted the road to pass for development to follow, it will not throw the people into the streets unjustifiably. On the non-payment of project progress bills to the contractors amounting to over FCFA 2 billion, the Minister invited staff of his ministry in charge of such concerns to see how possible and fast things could be worked out.

Technical problems linked to hydraulic works as well as the near scarcity of construction material like recommended cement, were directed to the technical department of the ministry for resolution. This plethora of problems is hindering the visibility of the project's progress, argued the contractor.

Work on the road started on July 1, 2014 and is expected to end on April 30, 2017 after the contractor requested the extension of time frame. The project shall see the development of 21.1 km of road with the construction a 120 ml bridge on the Mvi River and a 100 ml bridge on Mape River.

Project bills worth 21.4 billion FCFA are financed by government (46 per cent), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, BADEA (32.4 per cent) and the Saudi Development Fund (21.6 per cent). Construction is being carried out by the BUN's/MAG Group. The control mission and contractor say only 26 per cent of the project was executed as at March 1, 2016.