By Esua Fabrino-Bryce
Kumba City Council on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, welcomed a delegation from the European Union and its development partners as part of the Local Development Support Programme (PADL) consultation mission to the South West Region.
The visit formed part of a consultation tour of the Region’s three pilot municipalities—Tombel, Kumba and Buea. Kumba is the only City Council among the ten pilot municipalities selected across Cameroon, highlighting its strategic role in strengthening local governance and promoting sustainable local development.
The mission brought together representatives of the European Union, GIZ, CAP-CUE, UCCC, MINEPAT and the PADL Technical Assistance Team to engage with the Council, better understand its development priorities and identify practical areas where the programme can support the municipality.
Welcoming the delegation, the City Mayor of Kumba, Gregory Ntemoyok Mewanu, expressed appreciation to the European Union, the Government of Cameroon, GIZ and other development partners for their continued support to decentralisation and local development in Cameroon.
“While we deeply appreciate the European Union’s commitment to supporting the development of the City of Kumba, infrastructure—particularly the construction and rehabilitation of roads—remains our most pressing priority,” the City Mayor said.
He noted that improving road infrastructure is essential to the municipality’s growth and the well-being of its residents.
“Improved road infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth, social inclusion and the overall transformation of our municipality,” he added.
In the same like, the Mayor further appealed for support in connecting the Council with partners who can help deliver key infrastructure projects.
“We hope you will guide and advise us on how best to engage potential development partners, donors and sponsors who can help us realize these vital infrastructure projects and accelerate the sustainable development of the City of Kumba,” he said.
Also present was Patrick Aboko, Mayor of Kumbo Abedimo Council and President of the South West Bureau of the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon (UCCC), who congratulated the City Mayor of Kumba for hosting the European Union consultation mission.
“Bringing the European Union to a city is not just by chance. It is something the City Mayor has worked hard to achieve,” Aboko said.
He urged journalists to help educate the public on decentralisation, stressing that it is a process that benefits everyone.
“Decentralisation is not a matter of the City Mayor or councillors alone. It is something for the entire population,” he said.
Aboko expressed hope that the projects selected under the PADL programme would have a lasting impact on the people of Kumba.
The consultation also gave Kumba City Council an opportunity to present its development priorities and discuss practical ways of working with the European Union and its partners to improve service delivery and strengthen local governance.
Following consultations in Tombel and Kumba, the delegation continued its mission to Buea, completing its tour of the South West Region’s three pilot municipalities.
The consultation mission further strengthened Kumba City Council’s partnership with the European Union and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to working with national and international partners to promote sustainable development and improve the quality of life of the people of Kumba.
