The influence of Bamenda - Mamfe road infrastructure to the socio-economic development of Mamfe Central

Abstract

It is commonly said, where a road passes, development follows. This holds strongly to the construction of the Bamenda-Mamfe road which has triggered socio-economic development particularly in the town of Mamfe and its environs. However, the developmental aspects have also been accompanied by a series of setbacks such as; rapid urbanization and related ills, illicit trade and challenges confronting the road users. It was against this gloomy background that this study sets out to investigate the relationship between the construction of the Bamenda-Mamfe high way to the socio-economic development of Mamfe town. This work sets out to examinethe influence of the Mamfe-Bamenda road to the socio-economic development of Mamfe town. Three hypotheses were set to guide the study. Research methods and techniques that were adopted and used led to data collection, processing and analysis. Primary data was gotten through filed surveys where a total of 110 respondents from 7 quarters of Mamfe Sub-division provided the responses. Additional primary data was gotten through, interviews, focus group discussions and observation. The data gotten from questionnaires was processed using Microsoft Excel while Satellite images were processed using Landsat (1986, and 2020). Secondary data was gotten from published and unpublished documents from libraries and websites. Inferential and non-inferential analyses were effectuated that paved the way for the testing of hypotheses, drawing up meaningful conclusions, suggestions and policy implementations. The outcome of the data collected, treated, analysed and interpreted revealed that rapid urbanisation have been recorded in the town of Mamfe since the construction of the high way as indicated by the Landsate images of 1986 and 2020. Response score (59%) against 21 % revealed similar results. Respondents‘ opinions also showed that the construction of the high way has foster cross-border trade between Cameroon and neighbouring Nigeria (91.8% against 8.2%) which has gone a long way to increase the socio-economic lives of the inhabitants. The study equally found out that communication challenges (30%) administrative 45.5 % socio-economic 9% and 15.5% respectively were challenges confronting road users along the Mamfe-Bamenda stretch of road. In line with the results obtained by this study, the study recommends effective implementation of house planning policies in Mamfe town resulting from rapid urbanisation. More so, control of the flow of illicit cross-border trade articles is also imperative and proper road maintenance to keep users safe when using the road. This will save effectively the purpose of the road which will sought a broad base for socio-economic development of the region as a whole.