The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a US$20mn loan to the Republic of Cameroon to finance the construction of a Ring-Road project in the North-West province of the country
The Ring Road project, which falls under phase three of the country’s Transport Sector Support Programme, aims to improve the movement of goods and people. It will also strengthen the foundations for strong and sustainable growth by promoting domestic and regional trade, the bank said in a statement.
The loan for the 365 km Ring Road is the Bank’s third intervention in the implementation of this important road network rehabilitation and upgrading project. The loop road crosses five of Cameroon’s seven divisions of the North West region and includes several links to the Nigerian border, it added.
The project will include institutional support for the transport sector and related works such as the development of rural roads, the rehabilitation of socio-economic infrastructure for improving women and youth living conditions.
The road project is in line with the government’s Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP) 2010-2020, to build an integrated and efficient transport network at low-cost that covers the entire country opening the country to neighbouring countries to effectively enhance economic growth and reduce poverty.
The Transport Sector Support programme under which the project falls is also consistent with Pillar I of the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) 2016-2020 for Cameroon.
The project is expected to have a positive impact on transportation - greatly reducing travel time; an increase in traffic of passenger and goods; foster job creation for women and lead to work for 30,000 youths. The road will result in savings on vehicle operating costs; an increase in household income and reduction in post-harvest losses.
Since 1972, when the Bank started operations in Cameroon, it has participated in financing 28 transport sector operations.
