Group photo of SW Budget Follow-Up Committee
By Guy-Bruno Maimo
Manyu Division in the South West Region has become a key example of the systemic inefficiencies plaguing the execution of the region’s Public Investment Budget, While the financial allocations for various projects have been realised, physical progress in Manyu remains minimal, with some projects languishing at just 45% completion. This underperformance reflects broader challenges in the Region, which were discussed extensively during the South West Regional Budget Follow-up Committee meeting on January 22, 2026, at MINEPAT.
HRH Chief Dominic Yanai Asaah, the Regional Delegate of MINEPAT for the South West, acknowledged that despite the South West Region achieving 83% financial realization in 2024, some areas like Manyu were struggling with project delays and poor execution. “Manyu represents a larger issue we are facing in the Region despite high financial realisation, the physical execution of projects is lacking,” he said, referring to the poor performance in the Division. In Manyu, projects have been funded, but the physical work remains woefully incomplete, showing little to no progress.
Key officials at the SW Regional Budget meeting, MINEPAT, Buea
One of the key issues contributing to these delays is the ineffective maturation of projects. According to HRH Asaah, projects must undergo a thorough maturation process before funds are released, but many projects in Manyu and the wider Region have faced significant delays in this regard. “A project intended for Kupe-Muanenguba was submitted in September, leading to zero physical realisation,” he pointed out, highlighting the backlog of tender files and the failure to properly vet projects before initiation. The maturation cycle, as prescribed by the Prime Minister’s Decree of 2018, was meant to streamline project execution, but its inconsistent application has caused stagnation.
Moreover, the procurement system, designed to foster transparency and curb corruption, has become a source of frustration. Frequent power and internet outages disrupt the system, leading to delays in project awards and approvals. Despite alternatives, some officials in Manyu resist these measures, further hindering project progress. This resistance, combined with the practice of awarding contracts to the lowest bidder without proper oversight, has led to poor execution in the Division. In one case, a project originally budgeted for 20 million CFA was awarded for just 8.3 million CFA, raising concerns about quality and completion.
HRH Chief Dominic Yanai Asaah: Regional Delegate of MINEPAT, SW
Another challenge is the lack of engineer involvement during project execution. HRH Asaah stressed the need for engineers to be present from the start of the project to ensure quality execution. He explained that without their involvement, projects often experience quality issues, and discrepancies between financial and physical progress become more pronounced. Engineers are critical for ensuring that the work being done is up to standard and that the project is progressing as planned.
In Manyu, the situation has become emblematic of broader regional issues. Despite a high financial realisation rate, the physical work in the division has been disappointing. “Manyu has one of the highest financial realizations in the region, but the physical execution is poor,” HRH Asaah commented, emphasizing the disconnect between financial approval and actual project progress. He called for an investigation into the causes of the delays and the failure to pay contractors in some areas for completed work. “Contractors are not being paid for the work they’ve done, which only deepens the frustration of the local population,” he added.
As the South West Region continues to struggle with these persistent challenges, HRH Asaah emphasized the urgent need for reform. He stressed that better coordination among stakeholders, timely project maturation, and improved financial management are necessary to turn around the Region’s public investment budget execution. “The time for reform is now,” he concluded, urging that transparency, accountability, and a stronger commitment to development must become priorities if projects are to serve the people of Manyu and the entire South West Region.
