(Business in Cameroon) – During the African Development Bank (AfDB) Transport Forum held in Abidjan from September 18-20, 2024, Cameroon’s Minister of Public Works, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, called for increased AfDB investment in his country’s road infrastructure. Currently, AfDB is Cameroon’s largest technical partner in this sector, providing CFA824.8 billion, which covers 54% of the total road project financing, according to the Ministry of Public Works.
Cameroon’s road portfolio includes nine active projects supported by the AfDB. These include the Bamenda-Mamfe Corridor Transport Facilitation Program and the Ketta-Djoum Road Project, which facilitates transport along the Yaoundé-Brazzaville corridor. Other key projects include the rehabilitation of the Yaoundé-Bafoussam road and the construction of National Road No. 11 (Ring Road).
The government is also developing two new projects: the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Gabon Corridor Transport and Trade Facilitation Project, and Phase 4 of the Transport Sector Support Program (PAST-4), which will rebuild sections of the Ngaoundéré-Garoua road network. These projects aim to improve access to basic services, open up rural areas, and stimulate economic growth. The minister presented these initiatives during the forum’s plenary session on September 18, which focused on sustainable roads, development, and logistics maintenance.
Nganou Djoumessi also emphasized that many of these roads are part of the Central African Transport Master Plan, designed to enhance trade between countries in the region. Some of the routes will also strengthen ties between the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), particularly between Cameroon and Nigeria.
Cameroon is currently working on 70 road projects, covering 5,000 km of roads either under construction or being rehabilitated. The goal for 2024 is to add 869.85 km of new paved roads and improve existing infrastructure. The country’s National Development Strategy 2030 (SND30) prioritizes expanding and strengthening transport infrastructure, as road networks are vital for economic growth, poverty reduction, and regional integration.
The second AfDB Transport Forum, titled Africa on the Move—Accelerating Sustainable Transport and Logistics Connectivity” addressed the continent’s infrastructure and logistics challenges. The event took place as AfDB ramped up its investment in the transport sector, dedicating $2.49 billion to transport projects across Africa in 2023, a 36% increase from the previous year.
As Africa’s population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, and its economic output is expected to triple by 2040, the need to expand and modernize the continent’s transport infrastructure is more pressing than ever. Transport demand is predicted to grow eightfold by 2040. Cameroon hopes to secure more AfDB investments to further expand its road network.
