Yaounde-Ayos, Ayos-Bonis, Numba-Bachuo Akagbe-Mamfe-Ekok, Sangmelima-Djoum, Muea-Kumba, the Ring Road, are just a few of the road tarring projects that have become topical in recent years.

Regarded as proof of government's commitment to improve livelihoods and the unhindered movement of goods and people within the country and the Central African sub-region, the national road network has meritoriously occupied a primordial place in ongoing stratagems to boost development.

Devising every possible strategy to improve the country's road network will be the main issue preoccupying the over 1,000 stakeholders who begin meeting in Yaounde today in the National Road Forum. Holding under the auspices of the Minister of Public Works, Bernard Messengue Avom, the three-day forum aims at laying the foundations for a structured development, cooperation and partnerships between the Ministry of Public Works and all stakeholders in order to achieve significant improvements. The event, organisers say, will also enable the public to better understand the ministry's activities, enable the sector's actors to know each other and strengthen the performance of the ministry in its contributions to the attainment of national objectives related to growth and employment.

No stone will be left unturned as burning questions such as poor road construction, incompetent personnel, poor state of civil engineering equipment, unethical practices, insufficient funding for construction and maintenance as well as regulatory lapses, will be discussed. Judging by the calibre of stakeholders invited and the topics selected, emphasis is to be given to idea and experience sharing during workshops, focused group discussions and round table conferences after which palpable recommendations on improving the state of roads are expected by the close of the forum on Friday August 26, 2011.

According to statistics provided by the Ministry of Public Works, the national road network spans 52,723 km covering all ten regions. Tarred or asphalted roads account for 5,013 km, classified earth roads 19,430 km while rural roads stretch over 28,300 km.