The Mamfe Municipality will benefit from Low cost Housing, Health and Vocational Training projects to be funded under the Cameroon – Austria Soft loan scheme. The projects were selected at a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Economy Planning and Regional Development in Douala. According to Kenneth Vikema of MINEPAT, the Cameroon – Austria Soft loan scheme offers between 3 billion FCFA to 6 billion FCFA to local councils for development initiatives. Accompanied by Nying Pau Kwang and Mahamat Moussa, they explained modalities for access and utilization of the funds and how the Mamfe Council can execute the projects.
The Mayor of Mamfe Tabenchong Robertson Ashu praised the initiative and thanked the Ministry of Economy Planning and Regional Development for opening this funding to councils. The three projects selected by the council align with the desire by the council to provide socioeconomic amenities to the population. Talking about low cost housing the Mayor highlighted that this project is going to resolve the housing deficit in the town “There are IDPs from Mamfe and beyond who are in need of shelter. Also, some civil servants are reluctant to come to Mamfe because they say there are no houses. So this project will enable them to be comfortable in town”.
The destruction of the Mamfe District hospital has made access to health in Mamfe and Manyu Division extremely hard for the local population. “We need a befitting hospital to provide affordable healthcare to the population. We think that the funds from the Austrian government will help us achieve that and we are happy. ” Mayor Tabenchong Robertson Ashu reiterates. Mamfe is growing steadily and the Council must be ready to respond to demand for employment. The council through the soft loan will construct a Vocational Training center that will be well equipped .. Young people will learn several trades to enable them to set up businesses for themselves and also employ others.
Mayor Tabenchong Robertson Ashu and members of the Council have adopted a resolution to meet the Population in areas to host these projects and explain to them. The Council will work with a Consultant to guide them on the maturation of the projects for smooth execution. This development comes few days to the adoption of the Council budget for 2025 . Council officials have been urged to work as a team to ensure that the low cost housing, health and vocational training projects are realized. Also present at the strategic meeting was the Secretary General Takang Ernestine, the Municipal Treasurer Etape Otilia, the Chiefs of Technical Services and CDO Eng Besongem Enowmbi and Eng Nkeng Samuel, the Chairman and Secretary of the Development and Infrastructure Committee Balla Ibrahim and Asongna Gilbert.
Representing community was the Representative of the Paramount Chief Takor Daniel Emoh and Coordinator of the Besongabang quarter committee Ekule Kom Stephen. The Mamfe Council is determined to continue striving for development and meeting the needs of the population.