Enforcing sanitation in Douala is an arduous task that only daring council officials can bear. Even when surroundings are kept clean, illegal structures are erected by street corners or structures once demolished resurface a week or two after. This is the situation that the Mayor of Douala II Council, Denise Fampou, staff and a police officer went down to Ngangue, Bonapriso and New Bell to verify on May 25, 2016.

The visit came after weeks of sensitisation culminated in the demolition of illegal structures such as extensions bordering or narrowing streets, old and dilapidated residential structures and kiosks set up against norms. Those that were untidy were asked to be tidied up and painted within 48 hours, while plantain suckers, pear and other trees were cut down.

The measure follows the completion of the King Njoya Street (Rue Roi Njoya), thereby facilitating the facelift of the Nkololoun and New Bell neighbourhoods. According to Mayor Fampou, such makeshift structures make movements for pedestrians difficult as well as give a poor image of the beautiful neighbourhoods. At the end of the exercise, the Mayor said when sensitisation is not heeded, demolition is the last resort. And so it was on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, a day generally set aside for sanitation in the Douala II Municipality.