In a rare show of courage and transparency, the Minister of Public Works, Bernard Messengué Avom, acting as Project owner, has published the long-awaited results of the tender for the construction of the Djoum-Mintom-Congo border stretch of the road expected to link the Republic of Congo and Cameroon as per an arrangement reached between the presidents of the two countries in a move to improve the movement of peoples between the two countries through what has been referred to as the “Yaounde-Brazaville corridor”. This is the best illustration of the desire by the countries of the CEMAC realm, to make good all the good intentions that have been proclaimed in final communiqués issued at the end of the numerous summits our Heads of State have been subjected to; and which have never really transform into concrete reality, the so-called desire by the countries of the central African area to ease the movement of peoples between the various countries. This move is, of course to be celebrated. But the issue here has to do less with the celebration of another move towards integration than with a purely internal policy issue which illustrates some points that have been scored in the fight engaged by the Head of State and followed up by the generality of Cameroonians to ensure greater probity and openness in the management of public affairs and; notably, the public contracts sector where, it is well known, corruption is particularly rife.

The Minister, here, must be cited for his determination to instil transparency. As project owner, he had no obligation to publish the details of all those who tendered. But from his initiative, Cameroonians have had the opportunity to understand all the underpinnings of the tenders sector. The Honourable Minister might not have deliberately wished it, but it is now known that some projects executed in our country can cost even less than half of what the tenders bid for. This puts a very serious responsibility on the doorsteps of citizens selected for choosing those responsible for the realisation of major projects in the country. A critical appraisal of the proposals made by the different companies for the said road projects raises hair on the colossal amounts of money the Cameroonian taxpayer has lost in a number of these operations. The freshest in most minds is the second bridge project over the Wouri in Douala for which astronomical sums have been made available whereas ordinary people think a much smaller amount could have done the job. Mr Messengué Avom’s initiative must be followed by other governmental agencies, especially those responsible for major projects. The realisation of the President of the Republic’s “greater achievements” objectives will definitely run into trouble if adequate measures are not found to ensure that every franc removed from the State treasury is not used to the best benefit of the taxpayer.

In the Djoum-Congo border road project case, it was observed that the Cameroonian taxpayer could save as much as half the price as proposed by other bidders. The situation therefore calls for greater vigilance, but, above all, greater patriotism, in attributing such important contracts. Our hope is that the Minister’s initiative in publicising this action is not merely pulling wool in the faces of citizens, but should become a formula to be copied by all other government agencies; for every franc saved will be useful for our crucial developmental needs.