The Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development last Friday 23 August undertook a working visit to the South West Region where he inspected some priority investment projects sponsored by the National Community-driven Development Programme (PNDP) and the South Korean government. The inspection visit took Minister Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi accompanied by the South Korean Ambassador to Cameroon, Cho June Hyuck, to Isongo, Bakingile, Bwiyuku, Ndongo Wokoko and Owe, all in Fako Division.

The first stopover was in Isongo, the site of the Cement Factory jointly funded by Korean and Cameroon governments. Here, the Minister was told feasibility studies have been completed and construction works are expected to begin soon. In Bakingili, the Minister visited the rehabilitated and extended water scheme financed by PNDP and Idenau Council to the tune of FCFA 29,650,000. The rehabilitated water scheme will provide access to portable water by some 826 inhabitants of Bakingili who the Minister assured of government's commitment to continuously improve their living conditions. The working visit also availed the minister with the opportunity to be briefed on the envisaged projects by the Korean experts notably the Limbe Deep Seaport and the Pipeline projects whose first phase would gulp some FCFA 250 billion according to the experts.

The Minister and his delegation later stopped over in Government Primary Schools Bwiyuku and Ndongo in Buea Sub-division where a block of two classrooms, modern latrines and water facilities have been constructed in each of the schools by PNDP in collaboration with the Buea Council. While exhorting the communities to remain confident in government, Minister Djoumessi noted that the Head of State is unwavering in improving the living conditions of all Cameroonians. He encouraged them to make judicious use of the structures by sending their children to school as the country needs competent human resource for its development. The Minister who was also accompanied by the PNDP National Coordinator visited the newly constructed bridge over river Mowele in Owe, Muyuka Sub-division. The bridge that links Owe II and Owe III villages is constructed at the cost of FCFA 27,426,308 and will serve the over 8,000 inhabitants who are mainly farmers to transport their agricultural produce from the farms to the markets.