IMPROVING ACCESS TO DRINKING WATER : Camwater Secures Board Approval to Advance its Projects

(LVDE) – During its 56th session, the Board of Directors of Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation (Camwater) approved the continuation of priority projects outlined in the 2023–2027 Five-Year Priority Investment Program (PPQI).

On September 5, 2025, Camwater’s Board of Directors held its 56th session in the Akok Bekoe conference hall of the Starland Hotel in Bastos-Yaoundé. Chaired by Patrick Kum Bong Akwa, the Board reviewed the progress of projects included in the PPQI for the 2023–2027 period.

Dr. Blaise Moussa, General Manager of Camwater, presented the agenda items, assisted by Deputy General Manager Jocelyne Alice Ngo Njiki. Discussions focused primarily on the progress of projects that are essential to improving access to drinking water in Cameroon.

The Board noted the achievements made and, after constructive exchanges, granted approval to the General Management to continue ongoing work on several significant projects. Among them is the rehabilitation and expansion of the Japoma water production plant in Douala, a critical project to strengthen water supply in the country’s economic capital.

Another flagship project is the presidential initiative targeting one million water connections over five years, with the first phase aiming for 200,000 new connections. This ambitious program seeks to improve access to drinking water for thousands of households, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas.

The supply of drinking water to nine cities under the second phase of the project, as well as the reconfiguration of Yaoundé’s water supply system (PUMIP), are also priorities that the Board strongly endorsed. The clarity of the documents presented and the quality of the proposed actions were praised by the Board members, who expressed satisfaction with the strategy put forward by General Management.

Camwater’s main objective remains to achieve a drinking water coverage rate of over 80% in urban and peri-urban areas by 2026. The Board encouraged the Management team to maintain its efforts across various areas linked to its social mission.

In addition, the Board acknowledged the approval of the President of the Republic to host the 23rd International Congress and Exhibition of the African Water and Sanitation Association (AAEA), scheduled to take place in Yaoundé from February 9 to 13, 2026. This major international gathering will bring together stakeholders from the water and sanitation sector to exchange best practices and innovations. The General Management has been tasked with taking all necessary actions to ensure the success of this important event.

This meeting marks a key milestone in the transformation of Cameroon’s water sector, a field that is crucial for the country’s sustainable development. The commitments made by Camwater, supported by its Board of Directors, reflect a strong determination to improve access to water and secure a healthier future for the population. At a time when water-related challenges are becoming increasingly urgent, these initiatives carry significant weight and underscore the resolve of stakeholders to meet the growing needs in water and sanitation across Cameroon.

Esther Grace