The Minister’s decision was taken Tuesday, September 28, 2021, in response to some disgruntled locals who staged a protest that paralyzed circulation for several hours along the Ebolowa-Akom II road.

The movement of persons and goods along the Ebolowa-Akom II highway came to a standstill for several hours on Tuesday. The populations of some villages along Ngotto I and II had blocked circulation along the major road to draw the government’s attention to their plights.

The irate locals demanded social amenities including roads, water, network coverage, and power supply.

Amateur videos showed groups of locals felling trees that blocked the Ebolowa-Akom II road, paralyzing traffic for several hours.

“We are protesting to draw attention to the problems of electricity, roads, and network coverage in our area,” a local of the area told state media, CRTV.

Others added that the impassable nature of the road, many control posts, and high transportation fare stirred up their anger.

A mediation team led by Governor Felix Nguele Nguele was unable to calm the protesting locals. It was thanks to the rapid intervention of Minister of State, Minister of High Education Jacques Fame Ndongo and Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba for the roads to be liberated.

“We rapidly went through our budget and made available the sum of FCFA 200 million so that work can begin,” Eloundou Essomba told CRTV.

The two ministers held talks with the population at nightfall in the epicenters of the protests. They reassured the people of the imminent supply of electricity.

Prof Motaze Akam, spokesperson of the people said he is satisfied with the decisions arrived at and that the people are impatient to see the realization of the promises.

Akom II is located mainly on the national road no. 17 connecting the capital of the South Region, Ebolowa to Kribi. The road network is almost impassable in the rainy season on the 60km national road no. 17 connecting Ebolowa to Kribi. The 40km road linking Akom II to Bipindi is also impracticable throughout the year.

Almost half of the localities in Akom II are not connected to the electricity grid.

Potable water remains a scarce commodity for nearly 80% of the town's population.