Tche Irene Morikang
28 March 2008
opinion
The recent revelations that an additional FCFA 10 billion is needed to finalise the Yaounde-Olama road; the first strip of the Yoaunde-Kribi highway is simply incongruous. Those in charge say the money will cover some unforeseen important aspects of the project such as the compensation of those to lose property, the movement of electricity, water and telephone networks, the construction of a fly over at the intersection with the Yaounde-Douala road, the building of a bridge, etc.
The question many people are asking is: how could such crucial aspects of the project be omitted in the feasibility studies? Who even did the feasibility studies? How can we be taken seriously when such lapses are observed in projects of such magnitude? 10 additional billions for a project that was expected to cost 15.5 billion is simply too much; way beyond a margin of error. Almost the double of the initial estimate! The State will definitely have difficulties budgeting for its projects if at every turn of the road it has to put aside such colossal sums for the "unforeseen".
Just think of what FCFA 10 billions can do in a country like Cameroon. Those who were in Ghana for the Nations Cup know it can construct three of the Tamale-type stadium, those involved in the Japanese school projects will tell you that it can build over six of such schools and those in the water sector would say the money can be used to dig over a thousand boreholes! Let's try to be serious!
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