Southwest region:

Inadequate capacity of contractors hampers projects

By Boris Esono in Limbe

Officials pose with workshop participants

The construction sector plays a key role in the economy of Cameroon and therefore impacts the development of the country. This impact can go as far as influencing the banking sector. However, the lack of appropriate maintenance of these infrastructures negatively affects the population which thereby affects the society, reducing economic growth and limiting employment possibilities.

                It is as a result of the above analysis that the National Employment Fund, NEF, in collaboration with the Regional Delegation of Public Works, ARMP, MINMAP, and private companies on Thursday, 15 December 2016 in Limbe organized a training workshop on the theme: “The impact of construction and maintenance of public works infrastructures on the development of Cameroon”.

                Opening the one day workshop, Mr. Lokombe Vincent, 1st Deputy SDO for Fako called on the various participants to take the workshop very seriously especially as Limbe has been chosen as one of the venues to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations.

                “Limbe can boast of magnificent infrastructures such as the Omnisport Stadium, Middle farms stadium, and other facilities created, but care has to be taken if these structures must stand the test of time.

To Mr. Nkwanyuo James, Deputy Manager       AMA Consultants, in the past, knowledge for studies was vital and the budget to carryout visibility studies was significant to aid the construction process. But today the situation is different as projects are poorly surveyed with others not even going through the survey process and little or no money made available.

                Also, no preliminary study is done to ascertain that contractors selected for particular projects are competent to carry out such projects. “The issue of the award of contract to the lowest bidder instead of the highest bidder has to change. Sometimes, these contractors end up not being able of executing the job because of lack of adequate know how.”

                Cameroon like many African countries is facing the problem of development with various approaches being used to achieve set goals in the construction of new infrastructures. In 2015, the construction sector carried out activities estimated at 10% GDP with the European Union and 3 million enterprises employed 16.3 million workers and approximately 7.6% of the working population.

                But observers note that the construction sector is one of the sectors with the lowest level of supervision. More than two-thirds of employees have no education at all. The non implication of local authorities (Councils) in the management of construction works be them roads, water supply systems, buildings, just to name a few is also a worry.

                The abandonment and/or inability of some contractors to complete projects, due to lack of adequate equipment and manpower or due to poor financing, added to corruption and red-tape are combining to kill the contracts sector.