Bafut Mayor bemoans poor execution of PIB projects

By Kiven Brenda

The midterm execution rate of projects from January 1st to June30th 2017 of the Bafut rural council in Bamenda, North West region stands at 22.7% realization, down from 29.7% for same period last year.

                Out of FCFA 598,269,079 as revised revenue and expenditure, just FCFA 135,126,329 has been collected between this period.

                This was revealed during the midterm evaluation Council session of the council recently.

                This picture is recurrent in most councils in the North west region. Most council representatives are blaming this poor output on the ongoing crisis suffered in both Anglophone regions of the country as some business persons have reluctantly paid their taxes with some denying to pay them at all.

                The council’s local revenue stands at 47,252,114 up from 29,645,380 for 2016 since much effort and strict measures were carried out on sand fee collection as explained by Mayor Langsi Abel Ngwasoh in his welcome address.

                However, this upheaval hasn’t stopped council officials from carrying out some required projects such as the rehabilitation of farm to market roads like Manji-Mumelem,Nsoh-Mambu-Mankaanikon-Mamkwi-Akofunguba-Mundum,provision of toilets to GS Bukari amongst others which are yet to be executed due to the heavy rains.

                Mayor Langsi regretted that the council had suffered another blow this year as thieves broke into its offices on 12th of July 2017, making away with some valuable items.

                The first blow the council suffered was in March 2016, when their municipal treasurer, Taka Babila Cletus disappeared with over FCFA 15million, an amount which has never been recovered since the culprit is nowhere to be found.

                The session was presided at by the the Divisional Officer of Bafut,E Wane Jude who requested parents to leave politics for politicians and send their children to school.