Cameroon Revokes Another Local Road Contract Less Than a Year After Its Inception

The contract for the paving of the 24-km Pont de la Mape-Carrefour Mwoumban road, awarded to the Cameroonian consortium Precocam/ETS Sentinelle, has been cancelled by Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi. The decision, which was signed on June 3 and announced on June 10, 2024, attributes the termination to the consortium’s insufficient progress on the construction. This project is a segment of the larger Banyo-Mayo Darle-Nyamboya road project (147 km) on National Road 6 in the Adamaoua region.

Cameroon has recently faced a series of challenges regarding the development and maintenance of its road infrastructure. The latest incident involves the cancellation of a local road contract, which was awarded less than a year ago. This decision reflects the ongoing difficulties in advancing the country’s road projects to completion.

The contract in question was for the paving of a 24-km section of the Pont de la Mape-Carrefour Mwoumban road, part of the larger Banyo-Mayo Darle-Nyamboya road project on National Road 6 in the Adamaoua region. The Cameroonian consortium Precocam/ETS Sentinelle was awarded the contract following an emergency national tender in 2022, with a budget of CFA4.9 billion. However, due to insufficient progress, with only 19.5% completion at the time of termination, the Ministry of Public Works decided to terminate the contract.

This is not an isolated case. In recent months, several other contracts have been revoked from Cameroonian companies due to similar issues of delay and underperformance. For instance, the Wambo and Gege Business Sarl consortium faced a contract termination for the construction of the Bouam-Diang-Andom section in the Eastern region, also due to delays. These cancellations highlight a pattern of challenges that include inadequate project management, insufficient contractor mobilization, and subpar performance.

The implications of these cancellations are significant. They not only delay the much-needed infrastructure development but also impose financial penalties on the companies involved. Following the termination, Precocam/ETS Sentinelle will face a two-year ban from bidding on new public contracts in Cameroon. Additionally, performance and advance payment guarantees provided by the consortium will be mobilized as per regulations.

These developments raise questions about the effectiveness of the tendering process and the capacity of local companies to meet the demands of such large-scale projects. It also underscores the need for a more robust oversight mechanism to ensure that road construction projects are completed on time and within budget.

The Cameroonian government recognizes the importance of a reliable road network for economic growth and development. As such, it is imperative to address these recurring issues to improve the efficiency of public works and to foster a more conducive environment for infrastructure development.