Martin A. Nkemngu
18 April 2008
The National Road Council (CONAROUTE) met in Yaounde yesterday with Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni presiding in his capacity as president of the body.
Created in 2005 by presidential decree, CONAROUTE is a consultative body grouping representatives of the public and private sectors, the civil society and road users. The body has the responsibility of reinforcing dialogue between the stakeholders in the road sector through permanent consultation and concertation with a view to coordinate operations, projects programmes and policy in the sector.
CONAROUTE is one more government structure set up to cater for the development of road infrastructure in Cameroon given the importance of roads as a factor of development. Apart from the Ministry of Public Works there is also the National Road Fund which is involved in the road construction sector.
It is a truism to say that a good road infrastructure is a necessary prerequisite for development. The problem of a good and dependable road network is one of the major setbacks to development in Cameroon today. And government is fully aware of the situation which is why some FCFA 140 billion was budgeted for the Ministry of Public Works during the current financial year.
This amount adds to that of other related ministries like Urban Development and Housing. At this time of a serious food crisis, it is imperative for action to be taken for the development of a good road infrastructure to ease the transportation of food from the farms to the needy city centres.
There exists abundant food items in many rural areas in the South West, North West, Littoral, Centre and East Provinces but the setback is the absence of farm-to-market roads which can serve for evacuation to the teeming populations in the urban centres.
Even when funds are made available for road construction, some of the contractors begin work late when the rains have set in. Under such conditions efforts to maintain the earth roads are wasted as equipment render the roads muddy and impassable. It is expected that the stakeholders in CONAROUTE will take their responsibility by drawing the attention of those concerned not only to execute road projects properly but at the right time so as to ensure that the greatest benefit goes to the population for whom such projects are intended. There are also instances where contractors fail to execute the contracts given them for road maintenance and through corrupt deals are able to get themselves paid. The users of the roads who are represented in the Council should be able to the raise the alarm and draw the attention of government authorities to such acts so that the individuals concerned can be pursued and sanctioned.
The multiplicity of structures set up to monitor the road sector are proof of government concern and awareness of the importance of a good road network in the development process. But it is important for all stakeholders to join hands in the effort to make the sector succeed. The fact that the Prime Minister, Head of Government himself is head of the body gives reason to believe that no stone will be left unturned to improve the road network in the country. For, it is said that where the road goes, development follows.
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