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Bamenda ring road project: AfDB approves third phase.

The African Development Bank, AfDB, has announced the approval of Phase III of the Bamenda Ring Road project. This phase concerns the Kumbo-Nkambe-Misaje-Weh-Wum-Bafut-Bamenda stretch of the road.

 In the announcement, the bank said it will prioritise the road as it meets the standards of Sub-Regional Integration projects. This stretch alone provides several outlets to Nigeria, the continent’s biggest economy. Notably from Nkambe, through Ako and from Misaje, through Dumbo.

Given that funding was already made available for the technical studies, the third phase which will include the actual road works, as well as other safety nets projects gives hopes to the Region. A special support programme for the transport sector has also been included in this phase of the project. The entire project spans some 365km and it connects five of the six Divisions of the North West Region. Though approved, the bank didn’t immediately indicate if it will provide the total amount needed for the work. It already provided FCFA 12 billion early October 2019, when Cameroon and the AfDB signed a loan agreement for the technical studies required for the work to proceed to this phase. Shortly after that, the government also requested another loan of FCFA 155 billion from the bank for the actual works. The two amounts put together, confirm that Cameroon is requesting a total of FCFA167 billion for the project. The approval of this phase has rekindled hopes raised last October when the technical studies were announced. The Bamenda Ring Road promises to revolutionise the Region as the abundant farm produce from the grassfield will easily be transported to the markets. From the road, corn and rice produced in the region will be readily available to consumers in neighbouring regions and counties. This will result in an increase in standards of living. Cattle from the Dumbo ranch will also be transported with much ease to the Regional capital as well as other parts of the country.

 Another upshot bound to come when the road project is executed is the visibility and accessibility the Kimbi Game Reserve will get. The Bamenda Ring Road passes through the reserve and more tourists would certainly want to visit the site when it becomes accessible. While awaiting the final statement from the African Development Bank, concerning the degree of funding for this phase, it is already clear that the project delivery date is December 31, 2020. Executing firms and the other partners involved in the project would thus have to work at the speed of light when the funding is made available.