The Bamenda City Council has adopted a 5-billion-franc CFA budget for the 2026 financial year, placing infrastructure development, basic services and social cohesion at the heart of its agenda. The budget was voted on during a plenary session on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, bringing together city councillors, municipal officials and the administrative authority amid renewed optimism as major projects resume in the city.
Opening deliberations, Bamenda City Mayor, Tembeng Paul Achobong, announced that the council’s development vision for 2026 is structured around four priority pillars: road infrastructure; water and electricity; hygiene and sanitation; and food self-sufficiency. Of the total budget, 2 billion francs CFA will be devoted to investment expenditure, while 3 billion francs CFA will cover recurrent costs. An annex budget of close to 1 billion francs CFA has also been approved to address emergency and unforeseen needs.
Road infrastructure dominated discussions, particularly the ongoing Urban Crossing Project, financed by the World Bank and other partners. The city mayor disclosed that the City Council has completed all technical studies and tender documentation for a 3.5-kilometre access road leading to the newly operational gas plant. The road, he said, is planned as a double carriageway with electricity installed on both sides to facilitate production, distribution and access to affordable gas for the population.
“The gas plant is already effective, and all the studies for the access road are ready,” Mayor Achobong told councillors, noting that administrative and political challenges have slowed down the immediate launch of the works, but assuring that the project remains on course.
Reflecting on the difficult path to the start of urban road works, the mayor praised councillors, technicians and residents for their perseverance. He described the Urban Crossing Project as a hard-won achievement, made possible through collective resilience. “We stood together, faced the challenges together, and today the road works are finally visible,” he said.
However, the mayor cautioned that continued progress depends on peace and stability. He warned that World Bank–funded projects are highly sensitive to security disruptions and could be suspended if calm is disturbed. He therefore called on councillors to intensify sensitization efforts within their communities, churches and Njangi groups to preserve peace and protect development gains.
To ensure safety and efficiency on the ground, Mayor Achobong revealed that contractors have agreed to a phased execution plan starting from Finance Junction through Veterinary Junction, Ayaba Street and Hospital Roundabout. He further proposed day-and-night work schedules to speed up completion, arguing that accelerating the pace would reduce the risk of delays or donor withdrawal.
The mayor also acknowledged growing concerns about dust generated by the road works, describing it as a major challenge that the City Council is committed to addressing through closer supervision of contractors.
Looking ahead to the upcoming municipal and legislative elections, Mayor Achobong used the platform to make a strong appeal for unity, urging residents to set aside partisan divisions. “Bamenda is one,” he said, warning that political polarization has in the past fueled violence, destruction and social fractures. He called on citizens to embrace a shared vision anchored on peace, development and collective progress.
In an interview following the session, the city mayor further detailed the council’s development roadmap. He said adequate funds have been voted to support the Urban Crossing Project and to take advantage of the expertise and equipment of companies currently operating in Bamenda to rehabilitate and link secondary roads to the main urban network. He dismissed claims circulating on social media that some projects had not been executed, stating that the council’s excavator and compactor part of the 2025 Public Investment Projects are already in Bamenda and operational.
On water and electricity, Mayor Achobong announced plans to construct boreholes and develop water schemes in communities not served by Camwater, with particular attention to areas such as Nkar and Njah.
Solar-powered boreholes, he said, will be prioritized for communities without reliable access to the national grid. He also expressed confidence that persistent electricity shortages in Bamenda would be significantly reduced by the end of 2026.
Hygiene and sanitation were equally highlighted as key priorities. The mayor disclosed that dumping of garbage along the Bamenda Commercial Avenue has been prohibited, with waste collection now organized from 9 a.m. using separate trucks for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste. He explained that biodegradable waste would be transformed into manure to support local agriculture and strengthen food self-sufficiency.
As part of efforts to instill a culture of cleanliness, the City Council has declared December 23, 2025, a mandatory clean-up day for all residents, including civil servants, private businesses, hospitals and public offices. Law enforcement agencies will oversee the exercise, after which an evaluation will determine its regularity.
Addressing the council session, the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, Simon Emile Mooh, commended councillors for their commitment to peace and social cohesion during a mandate marked by insecurity. He praised their sensitization efforts, which he said contributed to a calm presidential election in the division.
The SDO supported the council’s sanitation drive and urged councillors to mobilize the population ahead of the December 23 clean-up campaign. He also acknowledged concerns over dust from road works, reminding contractors that their contracts require continuous watering of roads and calling on the City Mayor to enforce compliance.
Simon Emile Mooh raised concerns over the destruction of property without prior compensation, particularly in Ntamulung, where dozens of complaints have been registered. While reaffirming his support for road development, he insisted that compensation must precede any demolition. He further emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of building permits and taxes, especially in high-value construction zones, to boost council revenue.
In a development welcomed by participants, the SDO confirmed the official reception of the Bamenda gas plant in Bangshie, announcing that gas is now permanently available in the city at regulated prices. He described the project as the fulfillment of a promise made by the Head of State before the end of 2025.
Despite lingering challenges, including the delayed completion of the Bamenda Main Market and City Hall projects, the adoption of the 2026 budget and the resumption of major infrastructure works have raised hopes of renewed recovery. City authorities concluded the session with a call for unity, peace and active citizen participation as Bamenda seeks to consolidate stability and accelerate development in the coming year.
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