Cameroon’s Ministry of Public Works recorded a budget shortfall of about CFA84 billion in 2025 on the internal resources component of its Public Investment Budget, despite near-full execution of available credits, according to data from the ministry.
The gap emerged even as budget consumption on that line reached 99% for the year. Ministry officials attributed the situation to unpaid payment claims resulting from the exhaustion of voted credits, noting that no new commitments can legally be made once budget ceilings are reached.
In practical terms, the ministry acknowledged that works valued at roughly CFA84 billion were executed without corresponding budget coverage. The amount represents about 36% of the internal resources envelope, highlighting what officials described as a broader issue of insufficient state funding for public investment needs.
Cash strain for contractors, costs pushed forward
The shortfall has translated into cash-flow pressure for construction companies contracted by the ministry. Several firms carried out road works whose value exceeded the credits allocated under the internal resources line of the Public Investment Budget, which stood at CFA248.9 billion in 2025.
Overall, the Ministry of Public Works’ investment budget for 2025 was set at CFA500 billion, including CFA251 billion in external financing. Payment claims that could not be committed or settled during the fiscal year will be carried over into the 2026 budget.
The rollover adds to fiscal pressure in the next budget cycle and underscores recurring tensions between project execution, budget realism, and cash availability in Cameroon’s public works sector.
Ludovic Amara
