A landmark agreement signed March 26 has cleared a major hurdle for the proposed African Center of Medical Excellence in Cameroon, securing the land needed to break ground on the project.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and the Mission for the Development and Equipment of Urban and Rural Land (Maetur) signed a convention granting a 10-hectare plot for the future hospital complex.
The site is located in Nkolmveng, along the Yaoundé-Nsimalen highway and adjacent to the international airport. The location was chosen to ease access for both Cameroonian patients and those traveling from abroad.
A Decisive Land Step to Launch the Project
Beyond securing the plot, the convention marks a significant step toward making the project a reality. By resolving the land availability constraint, it clears the way for construction to begin. The agreement also provides for the full development of the site to make it suitable for housing the various components of the future medical complex.
Backed by Afreximbank and the National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS), the African Center of Medical Excellence aims to become a reference institution at the sub-regional level. The project includes a cutting-edge hospital specializing in oncology, cardiology and hematology, with the stated goal of strengthening local healthcare capacity and reducing medical evacuations abroad.
Surrounding the hospital core, additional facilities are planned, including a training and research center as well as accommodation units for patients and their companions. The overall design aims to create an integrated environment meeting the standards of modern medicine.
A Health Investment With Expected Urban Effects
Project financing is split between the two backers, with Afreximbank holding a 51% share and the CNPS 49%, in line with a memorandum of understanding signed Jan. 25, 2024.
Beyond its healthcare impact, the project fits into a broader urban development logic. According to the Ministry of Housing, the center's location will help structure new development hubs around the capital, in connection with existing infrastructure, including the Yaoundé bypass road.
Over time, the project is expected to boost activity in the Nkolmveng area, attract new investment and improve living conditions for nearby residents, while strengthening Cameroon's position as a medical hub in central Africa.
Patricia Ngo Ngouem