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Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal – Vol. 8, No. 4

Publication Date: April 25, 2021

DOI:10.14738/assrj.84.10074.

Ngong, H. N., Fombe, L. F., Achankeng, E., & Fombe, G. M. (2021). Public Infrastructure Procurement Practice and Challenges in the

Bamenda Municipality, North West Region Cameroon. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 646-661.

Services for Science and Education – United Kingdom

Public Infrastructure Procurement Practice and Challenges in the

Bamenda Municipality, North West Region Cameroon

Hycinth Ndze Ngong

MSc. in Geography University of Yaounde 1

PhD Research Fellow and Graduate Teaching Assistant at the

Department of Geography and Planning, The University of Bamenda

Lawrence F. Fombe

PhD in Geography, Professor and Director of the

Higher Institute of Transport and Logistics, The University of Bamenda

Eric Achankeng

PhD in Geography, Senior Lecturer, The University of Bamenda

Georgewill M. Fombe

MSc. in Human Resource Management,

Director of Archives and Documentation,

Public Contracts Regulatory Agency Yaounde

(former Chief of ARMP, North West Region)

ABSTRACT

Public infrastructures play a significant role in poverty reduction, human

development and spatial interaction of the population. The practices of

stakeholders in the procurement system in Bamenda are a controversy in the

contemporary socio-political discourse. Through these practices, public

infrastructures are provided to and for the population. This paper seeks to uncover

the myriad of challenges involved in the procurement practices in Bamenda. The

study made use of both qualitative and quantitative data, obtained using secondary

and primary sources from documentary exploration and extensive field work.

Secondary sources included books, annual reports and archives of Divisional and

Regional Delegations, Inspectorates of Education, Regional Institute of Statistics

and Public Contracts Regulatory Agency, North West amongst others. Primary data

was obtained over three months of extensive field investigations through

questionnaires interviews and focus group discussions. A GPS was utilized to obtain

geographic coordinates of publicly procured infrastructures, particularly health,

educational and road infrastructures. Results reveal that there is complexity in the

way procurement is undertaken for socio-economic benefits to the population.

Procurement principles are ineffectively applied, leading to inefficient execution of

contracts. Late payment of contract funds amongst others is a cause of inefficient

execution and lateness in the delivery of procurement output in the domains of

health, roads and educational infrastructures. The study recommends project

owners to release contract funds earlier than usual and contractors who enhance

poor execution of projects and uncivil road users who facilitate road degradation

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Ngong, H. N., Fombe, L. F., Achankeng, E., & Fombe, G. M. (2021). Public Infrastructure Procurement Practice and Challenges in the Bamenda

Municipality, North West Region Cameroon. Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal, 8(4). 646-661.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.14738/assrj.84.10074

or cause damages to projects be severely sanctioned. The Law No. 73/7 of 7

December 1973 on the preferential claim of the treasury to safeguard public funds

by Municipal and Regional Councils should be effectively implemented.

Key words: Public Procurement, Public Investment, Development, Contract, Bamenda

INTRODUCTION

The complex process, through which physical investments are provided for the population by

central and local governments across the globe is a growing preoccupation not only to public

authorities but also for the consumers of public infrastructure services. This is achieved

through a secured, competitive procurement system and an effective public contracts execution

rate. In developing as well as developed regions, this procedure has been proven to be a

panacea to social welfare of the citizenry, (Thai, 2009). In 2008, China spent over US $ 88 billion

in procurement, while the EU’s procurement market grew from US$ 1.500 billion in 2004 to

US4 2150 billion in 2008. In the same period, Japan used US$ 11 billion; USA spent US$ 287

billion on construction services (Yuhua and Wang, 2011). This expenditure trend continues to

rise because more and more people are getting interested on how governments spend

resources in their efforts to satisfy the demands of citizens.

In Sub Saharan Africa, procurement amounts to over US$ 820 billion per year (UNIDO, 2017;

World Bank, 2016). In this perspective, government spends on machinery, high technology,

computers, telecommunication and related office services. As procurement budgets are

increasing, application of sustainable procurement, ethical, and transparency principles need

to be stepped-up as well. An optimal approach needs to match the increment in budget with

sustainable projects especially in precariously underdeveloped areas. According to the 2010

Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum which assesses the economic and

social competitiveness of countries, twelve determinants known in the report as “pillars” are

used to measure competitiveness. The second pillar in this report is quality infrastructure

(World Economic Forum, 2010). Through this, the World Bank articulates that resilient or

quality infrastructure is an indispensable factor in the evaluation of growth and the

improvement of living conditions, without which a majority of people will not be taken out of

the poverty cycle (Sachs, 2005).

Competitive tendering in public procurement is the greatest challenge in public investments

system in Africa thus a downturn in development. This is principally but not limited to the lack

of transparency, accountability and delegation of powers which contribute to bad practices and

poverty (World Bank, 2000). More than US$148 billion is lost due to bad practices in public

procurement. The study carried out by Warsame (2013) in North Africa on the role of civil

society organizations in promoting transparency in public procurement regime, showed that

over 1,359 billion FCFA is spent to buy goods and services in government ministerial

departments and specialized agencies.

The development of public infrastructure and government procurement contracts are all

embodied into state laws. The United State of America’s legislative pillars for example are the

Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994 (Public Law 103–355) and the Clinger–Cohen Act

of 1996 (Public Law 104–106) as cited in World Bank Group (2016). Procurement in the OECD

countries, China, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda just to name a few is guaranteed by state legislation