With a sharp rise in investment spending, the council places digital services, basic utilities, roads, health and gender protection at the centre of its 2026 agenda.
The Bamenda III Council on the 23 December 2025 adopted its 2026 programme budget during a statutory council session held in Nkwen, setting the tone for an ambitious year focused on service delivery and infrastructure development.
Councilors voting budget
The budget was approved at two billion two hundred and sixty-four million francs CFA, a significant increase from the 2025 figure. Beyond the adoption figures, attention centred on a wide range of priority projects announced by the Mayor, Fongu Cletus Tanwe, aimed at improving daily life across the municipality.
A flagship project for 2026 is the full digitalisation of civil status registration, positioning Bamenda III among the first councils in the country to issue civil status documents electronically. The Mayor disclosed that a modern civil status office is under construction, fully equipped with computers and backed by a solar power system to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery.
In basic utilities, the council plans the extension of potable water and electricity to underserved neighbourhoods, including Ndzah, Ntielah and Ntabang, alongside continued water maintenance works. Other projects include the Ntabang Water Project and a solar-powered borehole in Njenefor, while electricity extension will prioritise durable infrastructure.
Mayor, Fongu Cletus Tanwe speaking during sessionUnder decentralised development, the council earmarked over 87 million francs CFA for PROLOG projects, enabling Quarter Development Committees to finance community-selected initiatives. Education will also benefit through the construction of classrooms, while the health sector will see the equipment of the Ndzah Health Centre and the construction of a perimeter fence at the Nkwen Integrated Health Centre.
Sanitation and environmental health form another pillar of the budget, with provision made for the purchase of tricycles and trash cans to strengthen waste collection and municipall cleanliness.
On social protection, the Mayor announced funding for the development of a council gender policy, with specific attention to combating gender-based violence, an issue he described as increasingly urgent within the municipality.
Representing the Senior Divisional Officer for Mezam, Ayuni Austin Sakah, Divisional Officer for Bamenda III, praised the council executive for prioritising investment, noting a marked increase in funds allocated to development projects. He urged councillors and residents to support revenue mobilisation efforts to ensure effective implementation of the budget.
The Fon of Nkwen, in his remarks, commended the council leadership for development efforts, particularly the new council hall, and called on all stakeholders to make 2026 a year of tangible impact for communities, in line with the vision of decentralisation.
With the budget adopted and priorities clearly outlined, Bamenda III now turns to implementation, as residents look to see promised projects translate into visible change on the ground.
Full video of session here
By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Online
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