Reconstruction In War: Paul Tasong & Njong Donatus On Another “Money-Wasting” Mission To North West, South West

Paul Tasong and Donatus Njong respectively National Coordinator and Deputy National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW are in Bamenda.
According to a press release, the duo is on a sensitization and awareness mission in the region, a mission that will end on July 3 after a visit to the South West Region.

“Under the High instructions of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph DION NGUTE, The National Coordinator of the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions (PPRD-NW/SW) hereby announces that he is embarking on an Awareness and Sensitization Campaign from Monday, June 22nd to Friday, July 3rd, 2020.

“The Campaign, which is aimed at reaching out to the beneficiary populations and other actors in the field will among others: Highlight all the reconstruction activities envisaged; Outline the processes and mechanisms for the implementation of the Plan; Define the methods of organization and support for the various beneficiaries of the Plan, and Ensure ownership of the Plan by the said beneficiaries.”

Analysts wonder why Tasong and Njong had to undertake a mission to the North West and South West Regions, given that several of such visits had been made in the past.

They recall that Peter Mafany Musonge had led members of the National Commission on the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism to both regions. Their visit was preceded by several other trips of other cabinet members including former Prime Minister Yang Philemon.
Upon assuming office as Prime Minister Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute went to the North West and South West Regions for a similar fact-finding mission.

At the Major National Dialogue, stakeholders presented the needs of the region to Government.
Many are now asking to know what government has been doing with all the information collected from the restive regions. What is it new that Njong and Tasong seek to get from the North West and South West Regions? Aware that it is impossible to reconstruct while soldiers are still burning, looting, and killing in the area, Tasong and Njong may well be looking for ways to exhaust the budget. If not, then what new information will they get? Or will they visit Kwa-kwa, Alabukam, Ngarbuh, Pinyin, and many other places destroyed by soldiers? The answer is indeed blowing in the wind.
Mimi Mefo Info recalls that Tasong and Njong were installed Wednesday, April 15, 2020 by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief. Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph after he had appointed them on April 3, 2020.
In his installation speech, PM Dion Ngute instructed Tasong and Njong to elaborate on the action plan and annual work outline as the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and development of the North West and South West Regions takes center stage.

The Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West Regions, PPRD-NW/SW, was inspired by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya when he “Instructed the creation of a working group at the Prime Minister’s Office which was effectively done on August 1st 2019, with the responsibility of elaborating the working document for the reconstruction of these regions,” said Dion Ngute.

“In order to execute the important task, the working group carried out a wide range of consultations with the populations of the North West and South West regions. The populations expressed their aspirations of seeing their regions reconstructed and for life to return to normalcy.”
On the reconstruction and development spheres, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute noted that: “Three major areas required close attention; the reestablishment of social cohesion, the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructure and the revamping of the local economy.”
To highlight the importance and weight of the plan, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute recalled that, “On December 5, 2019, a number of diplomatic representations attended the meeting in Yaoundé during which the reconstruction plan was [presented. The diplomats on behalf of their various countries agreed to support the financing of this plan which was later forwarded to the President of the Republic for his high approval. In a document approved by the Head of State, the Cameroon Government and its multilateral and bilateral partners agreed to mobilize the sum of over 89 billion.”

To the National Coordinator and Deputy National Coordinator, Chief Dr. Dion Ngute reminded them that the task ahead is daunting and demands diligence, hard work, and commitment.
“Among the tasks that await the newly appointed personalities are; the rehabilitation of about 350 schools, 115 health centers, 40 bridges, 400 power points, 500 KM of Low tension power points, 600KM of rural roads, 45 markets, 12000 houses, 25000hectares of farmland, livestock lost by grazers, the reestablishment of close to 3000 personal documents lost.”
The PM acknowledged that the PPRD-NW/SW National Coordinator Minister Paul Tasong contributed significantly to the development of the 10 years reconstruction plan for the North West and South West regions which was presented at the Major National Dialogue and validated after inputs from participants.

He described the two coordinators as emblematic and having a mastery of the two regions.
In order to match words with actions, PM Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, instructed that, “The National Coordinator and his Deputy, as a matter of urgency should set up a coordination team, prepare the first annual work plan and submit it to the steering committee for its approval.”

The PM then called on the stakeholders involved in the reconstruction exercise to collaborate for the interest of the PPRD-NW/SW.
“I want to call on the ministerial departments’ concern with reconstruction, to give them their full collaboration for this program considering the particular importance the Head of State attaches to it,” Chief Dr. Dion Ngute said.