To boost ecotourism:

Rehabilitation of Y’de Municipal Lake re-evoked

By Rachel Ntube in Yaounde

After many failed promises government has once again announced the imminent rehabilitation of the Central Lake in Yaounde this, after a Spanish Bank accepted to provide funding for the much-talked-about but never realized project.

                The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Louis Paul Motaze, told journalists that this time the project is for real. He gave the assurance while signing two loan agreements with Spanish Bank, La Deutsche Banqued’Espagne on Tuesday 13 September 2016 in Yaounde.

                Spanish man Antonio Navarro Escobias signed for the Bank, in the presence of Cameroon’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development and the Government Delegate of Yaounde who are the joint overseers of the project.

                The total of FCFA 21 billions to come from the two loans will be used to finance the first phase of the project to rehabilitate the Yaounde Municipal Lake and the adjacent Mingoa Valley that extends to the Camp Yeyapneighbourhood. This is with the objective to give the lake and its surroundings more value-added tourist and economic wise, Minister Motaze hinted, expressing the hope that a rehabilitated Municipal Lake and Mingoa valley will also boost the beauty and tourist attractiveness of the political capital city, Yaounde.

                It is expected that the lake waters would be drained and its underlying surface completely scraped of mud and covered with white, glittery sand. This will make the lake waters appear transparent and shiny to onlookers.

                Also, the surroundings of the lake would witness the creation of amusement joints, while flying boats would be provided for those who would want to undertake leisurely navigations round the lake. A five star hotel has also been earmarked in the neighbourhood that will also harbor exotic bars, restaurants, shops and amusement parks.

                Happily enough, the Spanish company, Acciona, that has been contracted to carry out the landmark project has assured of its proven expertise and competence in the domain.

                “Our aim is to prove to Cameroonians the seriousness of Spanish companies in handling projects of this magnitude,” said the representative of the Spanish Ambassador to Cameroon.

                The rehabilitation of the Yaounde Municipal Lake falls in line with President Biya’s program of not only providing essential, modern and widespread infrastructural edifices for the country but to also create jobs for the unemployed masses of youths.

                Minister Louis Paul MOTAZE, says apart from the rehabilitation of the Municipal Lake, Yaounde will sooner than later, also witness the erection of new, modern state-of-the-art ministerial buildings, lodgings and other infrastructure.

                «Our aim is to transform Yaounde into a city that can compare favorably with other capital cities in the world,” concluded Minister Motaze.