It may appear like sheer curiosity to wonder why Cameroonians have the courage to say certain things aloud!

Members of the Regional Follow-up Commission for Public Investment Projects in the East Region recently met to realise, among other reasons, that most projects were being abandoned in the Region because of inaccessibility. Several explanations may attenuate such an argument, but come to think of it, the East Region is not found in space!
The Commission equally noted that in 2015 alone, over 40 per cent of projects earmarked for the East remained uncompleted.

The projects included road infrastructure, social amenities like the construction of classrooms, boreholes, etc. Looking at the impact of such development initiatives on the lives of the population and the hue and cry for an emergent Cameroon by 2035, it is unpatriotic to remain quiet when contractors deprive the masses of such vital necessities under the guise of lack of roads to get to project sites.

Such excuses betray appalling lapses in the public contracts system in the country. How on earth could a contract be awarded to a company that is unaware of field realities? How should local inhabitants feel to know that they cannot benefit from earmarked development projects because they were born in an inaccessible place?  Could such reasons be a suggestion that they relocate elsewhere in order to be sure of better living conditions?

Yet, it is common knowledge across the country that Cameroon on paper boasts one of the most coherent public contracts tender systems on the continent. Unfortunately, this is hardly translated into concrete reality judging from the number of projects abandoned on grounds that feasibility studies were either not well done, the contractor failed to meet the requirements of the contract or certain contractors had too many work sites and were unable to meet deadlines.

Within the past four years, the public has regularly been served with an avalanche of reasons why there is a generalised delay in the execution of public contracts. It may sound naive here to behave as if the entire problem is unknown or inconceivable! The problem of governance seems to be at the centre of most shortfalls recorded in the public contracts sector in the country and the solution may no longer be found only at the level of withdrawing such contracts or keeping aside those who fail to meet the conditions required for the execution of certain projects.

It may take firmer measures to ensure that those found wanting pay damages dissuading enough to deter others from committing the same economic crimes. Evidently, note is often taken of lapses recorded in the realisation of projects while little is generally said of the funds allocated. At times, the money simply disappears into private pockets and those involved behave as if they are conformists who are working tirelessly to support the Head of State in efforts to build a strong and viable Cameroon! The recent scramble being observed around work sites meant to host the 2016 Female Africa Cup of Nations is a glaring example.

It may not be strange to get several excesses like sourcing for funding or poor feasibility studies as reasons for delay. But the way time keeps on catching up with those who play such ostrich games ought to serve as an eye-opener to others that you cannot deceive the people all the time. 

It remains inconceivable that the East Region where the country has some of the most valuable mineral deposits should be deprived of development projects under the fallacious pretext that the area is inaccessible. It may not be cynical to equally note that companies which go to such areas in search of minerals, timber and other natural resources hardly complain of inaccessibility!

The huge development challenges that the country must have to surmount require that those who try to hold back the hand of the clock must be brought to book. Failing which, such deceitful persons may always find their way by taking the country hostage.