The government of Japan has signed a financial agreement with the government of Cameroon to fund the ongoing plan to reconstruct and develop the crisis-hit North West and South Wet regions.
The FCFA 1.5 billion (USD 2 759 998) funding deal was signed at the Star Building for Cameroon by the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT), Alamine Ousman Mey and for Japan by the Ambassador, Osawa Tsutomu.
It was in the presence of Prime Minister Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute and the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Jean Luc Stalon.
“The government of Japan decided to finance this project to rehabilitate the water points and the health centres of the SW region and we are going to continue to contribute to the reconstruction and development of the SW region.” Osawa promised after penning the deal.
MINEPAT boss, Alamine Ousmane Mey on his part expressed hopes that the Japanese contribution will set a pace for better tidings with other partners.
“Japan has today showed the way and we want to belief that our partners will also continue to support as they did relentlessly in the past,” Alamine said.
The implementing partner of the reconstruction and development plan, UNDP, through their Representative said it is important for the grassroots to feel the impact of the project on the field.
“We think that it is very important why other things are taking place that we don’t forget to at the same time provide basic services to the affected population,” said Jean Luc Scalon, UNDP Resident Representative.
The deal is a fulfilment of a promise that was made by Ambassador Osawa Friday 22 January 2021 during an audience with the PM. Aside projects to rebuild social amenities, the Ambassador during the audience said his government is also considering two other projects including the suspension of Cameroon’s debts repayment within the framework of the G20 debt service initiative and that to improve the TV production equipment pool of the Cameroon Radio Television, CRTV.
Means of financing the reconstruction and development plan it should be noted has been a major concern since the PM in April 2020 signed the organic framework for the implementation of the plan despite extensive groundwork undertaken to identify priority areas and beneficiaries.
Cameroon has made available 10% representing FCFA 8.9 billion out of the close to FCFA 90 billion needed for the first phase of the plan which is geared toward recovery. The contribution of Japan to the execution comes as a ray of hope for the population of the two regions as it will improve health care and potable water in Fako Division.
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