Meme BIP committee calls for early award of contracts

From Maxcel Fokwen in Kumba

The committee charged with the monitoring and follow up of the execution of projects within the context of the Public Investment Budget (BIP) in Meme division has called on vote holders to award projects to contractors early enough for a speedy realisation.

According to committee members, this would be a positive step in the struggle to disenclave the division as it would ensure the effective consumption of government’s investment   budget for the division.

Committee members  hinged on the observation Thursday October 4, 2012 during a caucus  at the conference  hall of the Kumba city council wherein the issue of heavy rains appeared paramount as  one of the  reasons why most projects under execution  are yet to  be completed as the financial year shortens.

During deliberations, one of the committee members, Nawa Ngoh Martins downplayed the argument of bad roads as a  pivot to suspend  projects citing that  Bakasi which is more enclave than parts of Meme division such as Mbonge and Konye  which have projects under execution. Nawa called on the contracting authorities to step up their efforts to reverse the situation.

Taking the queue, the mayor of Mbonge Andrew Otte, explained that it is risky to allow a contractor to continue a project when the rains are heavy given that the roads become impassable. The municipal authority cited situations where he said even a bag of cement becomes difficult to transport when it rains. Otte subscribed to the recommendation of awarding contracts early but assured the members that the local authorities are there for the population and would work without complicity to see that projects are delivered on time.

Johnson Kum, finance controller for Meme reminded committee members that as from 2013, things would change with respect to the financial year and urged all the authorities to be active rather than dwell in laxity.

Going by his records, the Meme divisional delegate of economy, planning and regional development,  Tabe Ako Leo  put the level of execution of projects in Meme at 66.3% compared to last year when during the same period, the level of execution was 80%.

Tabe  however concerted with the committee chairman, Bake Samuel to announce that in reality,  the  level of execution this year has gone beyond 80% but the records of the delegate were yet to be  updated given that mayors and engineers have failed to report to the delegate on time.