Implementation of C2D Projects:

Anglophone Regions Missing out

Coordinator of citizens dialogue, Jean-Marc Bikoko

The Platform for Information and Action on Cameroon’s Debt Situation (PFLAD) on 29 June 2018 organized a Citizens’ Dialogue Forum during which participants undertook a critique of the implementation of the C2D program in Cameroon.

Holding in the presence of a representative of the French civil society, Alain Delmas, the dialogue forum had as objective to enable stakeholders in the implementation of the C2D projects exchange ideas with civil society actors and the press on the state of implementation and perspectives towards a better implementation in the future.

            “The civil society will always play its role of controlling the situation and sounding an alarm to the Cameroon and French governments when it observes that things are not going on well with the implementation of the C2D in Cameroon, especially as the 3rd C2D enters its second year. It is true to note that the C2D has so far had an appreciable impact in all the ten regions of the country. But it is also important to note that for it to continue to be efficiently and effectively implemented in all the regions so as to meet its global objectives, the insecurity in some areas must first be curbed. There is Boko Haram in the Far North, rebel incursions in the East and worse of all the escalating violence in the SW and NW regions. All these regions are supposed to benefit development projects financed by the C2D, but this cannot happen when there are no guarantees of security,” noted the president of the Syndicate of Public Sector Workers CSP, Jean Mark Bikoko, who is also the coordinator of PFLAD.

            He added: “PFLAD cannot be indifferent to this differential rate of implementation of the C2D in Cameroon. Some regions cannot benefit from the C2D while others are spectators. It is for this reason that we think that stakeholders of the C2D should engage a serious reflection on how the C2D can help to restore peace in these hot regions.”

            Apart from the precarious security that stalls some C2D projects, members of the PLFAD noted that: “it is important that a mechanism is put in place for a ready but controlled disbursement of C2D funds. This is because until now the disbursements have been problematic perhaps because of poor mastery of procedures by those in charge of keeping the funds.”

            The PLFAD also suggests that it is high time stakeholders of the C2D start contemplating ways and means of preserving the achievements of C2D in Cameroon.

            Meanwhile, during another outing at the Ministry of Finance in Yaounde on 27 June 2018, the government of Cameroon signed a Financing convention with the French government for the sum of fcfa 36 billion within the framework of the 3rd contract for debt relief and development, C2D. This money will be used to finance three projects notably: the project for support for valorization, transformation and industrialization of agricultural production and technical assistance for elaboration of policies and programs dubbed “regional programs II”.

            The convention was signed by the Cameroon minister of Finance, Louis Paul Motaze and the French Ambassador to Cameroon.

            The 3rd C2D contract which is currently in progress started after ten years of the 1st and 2nd contracts. During the ten years the government of Cameroon benefitted assistance from France to the tune of fcfa 566 billion, for the execution of projects in the educational, health, urban development and agriculture sectors.

            It should be noted that C2D funds loan repayments by Cameroon to France, which are ploughed back into the Cameroon economy strictly for development purposes.