The Impacts of Road Transport Infrastructure and the Socio-Economic Development in the Bamenda III Municipality, Mezam Division, North West Region Cameroon

Abstract

Transport is a vital infrastructure that drives the socio-economic development around the world. This is the case with the Bamenda III sub division in Mezam Centre, North West Region of Cameroon. The development of transport infrastructure produces diverse impact on the socio-economic development. The research examines the role of transport infrastructure on the socio-economic development of that sub division. The aim of this study therefore was to assess the role of transport infrastructural development on socio-economic development in the Bamenda III municipality. The study used a survey design to collect and analyses the required data. Data collection was done using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, observations and from secondary sources like text books. Chi square was used to test the hypothesis. The results show that road infrastructural development has played significant role in the socio-economic development in the Bamenda III municipality. Household in Bamenda III have different opinion on the role of transport infrastructure on socio-economic development. From the field observation, it was seen that majority of the respondent (89%) were of the opinion that transport infrastructure play significant role in the socio-economic development while a smaller proportion (11%) of the respondents were of the opinion that transport infrastructure does not play significant role. Transport infrastructure has play significant role in the socio-economic development some of which includes; improve social wellbeing through excellent production transport infrastructural development, reduces transport cost among others. There are some challenges faced by the transport sector in the Bamenda III municipality some of which include; traffic congestion, climate and poor drainage. Participants also propose some recommendations that could be put in place to reduce the challenges faced by the transport sector. Some of these recommendations include; traffic measurement measures, systematic and non-random construction of houses.