The Bamenda City Council has demolished a commercial building on Awa and Sons Street as part of the ongoing construction worka under the French Debt Reduction and Development Contract (C2D) urban redevelopment project.
The demolition, supervised by the City Mayor, Achobong Tambeng Paul, took place on Friday, July 18, 2026. The building, which housed several businesses including New Century Restaurant, a documentation office and a pressing shop, were among the structures identified for removal to make way for planned road construction and urban renewal works.
The exercise was carried out by workers from the project's contractor using heavy equipment.
Speaking after the demolition, Mayor Achobong said the council was implementing the redevelopment project to improve Bamenda's road network and urban landscape. He noted that the owner of the demolished building had challenged the council's decision but said the demolition proceeded in line with the project's implementation plan.
"We have brought it down, and we are committed to bringing down any structure that is in the way of the beauty of this municipality," the City Mayor said.
He urged owners of other buildings marked for demolition to remove their structures voluntarily, warning that those who fail to comply could have their buildings demolished by the council and may be required to bear the associated demolition costs.
Beyond the structures already earmarked under the C2D project, the City Mayor also called on landlords whose properties are considered dilapidated to take steps to rehabilitate them. He encouraged property owners to explore partnerships with banks and other financial institutions in order to improve or redevelop their buildings.
According to the mayor, owners who are unable or unwilling to renovate such structures may eventually face demolition if the buildings continue to pose challenges to the city's redevelopment and urban renewal plans.
The City Mayor further announced that a meeting with property owners and landlords will take place this week at the Bamenda City Council. The meeting is expected to discuss options for demolition, reconstruction, redevelopment financing and possible partnerships aimed at improving the affected properties.
While the council maintains that the demolitions are necessary for the successful execution of the C2D project, the exercise is expected to affect several businesses and property owners whose structures fall within the project's right-of-way. Some of those affected may face temporary disruptions to their commercial activities as the redevelopment works continue.
The C2D urban redevelopment programme is designed to improve road infrastructure, facilitate movement within the city and modernise Bamenda's urban environment.
0 Comments