Fundong Council budgets for 2018 with caution

The 2018 budget of the Fundong Council in Boyo Division of the North West Region has witnessed a 16percent decrease from the current year budget which stood at FCFA641million down to FCFA540million. 

Speaking during the budgetary session of the Council Friday November 10, 2017 the Mayor Denis Awoh Ndang explained that the decrease is “owing to the socio economic and political situation in our country today, and specifically the current crisis in the NW and SW regions, which has not favoured the generation of internal revenue.” According to the municipal head, the Council is “almost totally dependent on additional council taxes from FEICOM and the public investment Budget” reason why planning must be done with caution.

Expressing hope with the gradual resumption of schools as “government continues to seek lasting solutions to the issues raised”, Mayor Ndang noted that “a peaceful and calm atmosphere” is needed for the development of the municipality to continue. The social unrest and civil disobedience the mayor added has retarded several projects earmarked for Fundong amongst them; modern market construction in Fundong, bulldozing and maintenance of Baiso-Mbengkas and Oku-Achain-Konenen roads respectively.

With the very little means however, the council was able to construct some schools and carry out feasibility studies for others, construct culverts, supply of roofing sheets, update of the council development Plan CDP and tree planting in over forty water catchments in the municipality.

The voted 2018 budget is expected to continue with the protection of additional water catchments, rehabilitation of water schemes, manual maintenance and opening of roads, elaboration of a management plan for the Kom-Wum Forest reserve, construction of culverts and bridges, extension of electricity to some villages, financial and material assistance to some needy groups and organized groups, improvement of the waste management systems and others.

While thanking government for continuously making an input through the decentralization process, PNDP, FEICOM, LIFIDEP programs towards the realization of the Council’s projects, Mayor Ndang expressed the “wish for the decentralization process to be pursued to completion which entails having it accompanied with all the necessary means and resources.”