October 12 poll: Gov’t’s mea culpa!.

But evidence on the ground is replete with reports by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Africa Development Bank and other institutions that have evaluated economic progress as being in an unimpressive situation. 

There is no doubt weak transport, energy, and sanitation infrastructure hamper private sector productivity, increase costs, and contribute to regional disparities.

"While growth was modest in 2024 and some projects are underway, significant challenges remain, including corruption, resource allocation and ongoing conflicts are affecting infrastructure development," the institutions have noted. 

On the eve of the October 12 crucial presidential election, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute, has been criss-crossing the country, making promises or inaugurating projects.

These projects include the Babadjou-Matazem-Welcome to Bamenda road- a 35-kiolometre section that marks the completion of a major infrastructure project. 

While in Bamenda recently, the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the construction works on the Bamenda Urban Crossing. 

The two projects represent the last link of the 52-kilometre Babadjou-Bamenda road, financed by the World Bank, at the cost of more than 145 billion FCFA.

The work began in 2017. The new road is expected to improve conditions for travelers and help stabilise the North West Region, which continues to be affected by armed conflict.

On Monday, on behalf of the Head of State, President Paul Biya, the Prime Minister was in the South Region to launch a multi-billion FCFA project for the industrial mining of iron ore in the localities of Bipindi and

Grand Zambi in Ocean Division.

It will be Cameroon's first iron ore exportation project.

It followed the effervescence raised by the recent visit to the North West Region, where the PM inaugurated the Bamenda- Babadjou Road and laid foundation stones for numerous road construction projects within Bamenda.

He had also been to the South West Region, promising the revamping of the National Oil Refining Company, SONARA, which has remained unrepaired, after a fire ravaged part of its infrastructure more than four years ago. There have been failed promises to get it in full gear every year.

In Buea, while giving assurance that the refinery will be repaired, he used the occasion to campaign for the incumbent President Biya, saying: “…our role is to ensure greater sensitisation and mobilisation of our supporters. He urged them to muster courage and turn out on voting day. For the past seven years, supporters of the South West Region have maintained resilience and steadfastness for the CPDM party. This resilience must be proven through a massive voter turnout”.

The Board of Directors of the refinery has approved an ambitious restructuring plan, known as the Acceleration Plan for Restructuring and Rehabilitation Measures for Refining Recovery within 24 months.

The programme aims to restore the refinery’s capacity to pre-2019 levels. 

There is no doubt that the promises and inauguration of projects are intended to promote President Biya's vision of making the country a vast site of construction.

But there is no feelgood effect of the basic social amenities and infrastructure, such as electricity, water, affordable medical facilities and roads.

More scandalous is the mountain of refuse that pollute cities and towns of the country, not only posing health problems but traffic jams as refuse has rolled into many streets, including the national capital, which is supposed to be a model for the suburbs and other metropolitan dwellings to emulate.

Confronted with the daunting problems, President Biya asked before his last election that: "Should we therefore rest on our laurels? Definitely not. I am fully aware that we still have to deal with the inertia, incompetence or malice of some people, which all constitute constraints on our recovery. In addition, there is corruption in various forms and public procurement fraud".

If, as has been the question of the moment, President Biya has not fulfilled the novel promises made in over four decades, especially when he was in the prime of his age to personally supervise some of the projects that are still lagging in completion, like the Bamenda Ring Road for instance, what is the assurance that he will do so in the evening of his age?

While The Guardian Post wishes him well in his vision to continue with the Grand Ambition, we can only urge him to ensure that all his challengers for the election are given equal, and free opportunity to expatiate on their own programmes and even challenge his track record and promises, for voters to make an informed choice.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3574 of Wednesday September 24, 2025