The review of major ongoing projects for the 2015 financial year in the port city of Douala by the Government Delegate to the Douala City Council, Dr Fritz Ntone Ntone, took place on Wednesday, September 23.

The meeting included the companies involved, control mission, officials of the Public Contract Delegation, the Douala City Council, beneficiaries and other actors implicated in the development projects.

During the meeting dubbed “the resumption of work by stakeholders after a short suspension period in the heart of the rainy season, Dr Fritz told reporters in an interview that he was satisfied with the evolution of work done so far but regretted that the rate of financial execution is slow.

“Most companies have registered more than 50 percent physical realisation. The only problem is the delay in paying companies for the work already executed which at times push timeline further,” he explained.

However, he frowned at contractors who still carry out low-quality work, either because they underestimated the project amount or because they employed cheap labour, and those who diverted money for the project to other businesses. He enjoined them to carry out quality work and respect deadline as well saying, “It is only a lazy company that sticks to deadline while competent ones do good work and realise project even before the deadline.” To treasurers, he enjoined them to speed up the transaction on fund disbursement for contractors to deliver on time.

Through the heavily attended meeting, the Sub-Director of Investment at the Douala City Council disclosed that the execution rate of the construction of some Police Post in Douala is 95 percent done while the rehabilitation of the fence round “Salle des Fêtes d’Akwa” stands at 90 per cent execution rate.

The Ndobo-Rail road at Douala IV is 60 percent done, the Douala I Council House is 55 percent done, and Marché New Deido project at Douala III is 45 percent completed. Projects yet to kickoff include the grading of roads in Bonaloka and the construction of 2,000 latrines in schools and health centers among others.

On the other hand, Douala City Council will spend FCFA 45 billion while the government, through its contingency plan, will provide FCFA 50 billion for the development projects.