CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction

Transport represents one of the most important human activities worldwide. It is an indispensable component of the economies of countries and plays a major role in spatial relations; helping create valuable links between regions and economic activities, between people and the rest of the world.

Among the many importance of transport is its key role in specialization allowing production and consumption of products to occur at different locations.

Better transport allows more trade and a greater spread of people. Economic growth has always been dependent on increasing the capacity and rationality of transport.

1.1 Background of the study

The economic development of any economy is dependent on the ability of the country to make effective and efficient use of the available resources they have. One of the fundamental factors that facilitate the proper utilization of economic resources in the polity is the means of transportation.

Transportation is the movement of people, goods, and commodities from one location to another. This is done through a variety of means or ways either by road, train, air, or pipeline. However, every means of transportation has its own challenges infrastructural-wise.

Transportation is a wealth-creating industry on its own inadequate transportation limits a nation’s ability to utilize its natural resources, distributes foods and other finished goods; integrate the manufacturing and agriculture sectors, and supply education, medical, and other infrastructural facilities.

There is the need therefore to maintain and improve the existing transportation and build new infrastructures for national wealth. The national wealth is the growth of domestic products (GDP) which is an indicator or measure of the rate of economic growth.

Transportation infrastructure is critical to sustaining economic growth because people want to improve their standard of living and they see increased income as the way to achieve that goal, transportation system enhancement are in turn a means of maintaining or improving economic opportunities, quality of life, and ultimately income for people in a particular region Lucas (1998).

Transportation also has a broader role in shaping development and the environment. Policy concerns in the next millennium will increasingly focus on the effects of transportation on where people live and on where businesses locate; and on the effects that these location decisions have on land use patterns, congestion of urban transportation systems, use of natural resources, air and water quality, and the overall quality of life issues of urban sprawl, farmland preservation, and air and water quality have already pushed their way to the forefront of policy debates at both the national and local levels.

To make prudent decisions, policymakers must be equipped with the best information and analysis possible about the interactions among these various factors.

Transportation becomes the backbone of any economy, especially countries like Cameroon, as such anatomy of aspects relating to inefficiencies and lack of good transportation network in Cameroon coupled with a low rate of economic growth (GDP) is crucial, attached to this is the poor government policy on transportation (Lack of regulation of fees charged by private transporters.

Road transportation is one of the commonest means of transportation that people use regularly. One of the things that make road transportation very easy and smooth is the availability of good roads.

Road infrastructure is considered to be a key prerequisite for the social and economic development of any country. This is particularly true in Cameroon where road transport is the most widely used mode of travel.

Since the importance of the road network transcends national boundaries, the expansion and upgrade of the road network are vital to increasing economic performance. Hence, bad road infrastructure poses a hindrance to foreign investments in countries depending on them in terms of their economic performance and competitiveness enhancement.

Past investigations from researchers have demonstrated that road transportation is a significant financial development facilitator and furthermore as the foundation of monetary improvement exercises for nations.

In a wide assortment of writing, specialists have upheld the connection between good roads and a general public’s political, social, and financial turn of events. All the more explicitly, road infrastructure speculations establish significant political, monetary, and social cycles that expand the wealth and influence of a nation, amplify markets, and lower exchange hindrances.

This prompts increments in efficiency yields and upgrades in versatility and way of life for the general population.

The adequacy of road transport infrastructure determines a country’s success and another; failure in diversifying production, expanding trade, coping with population growth reducing poverty, or improving environmental conditions.

A good road transport infrastructure raises productivity especially in the agricultural sector of the economy and lowers production costs.

In Cameroon, the link between where the major production activities take place and where it is needed for final consumption needs good road transportation that will bridge the gap, although the precise linkages between infrastructure and development are still open to debate.

However, according to the World Development Report, 1994 infrastructure capacity grows step by step with economic growth. Good road infrastructure services help the poor contribute to environmental sustainability.

Clean water and sanitation, non-polluting sources of power, safe disposal of solid waste, and better management of traffic in urban areas provide environmental benefits for all income groups.

Integrated urban planning and transport policy can lead to more efficient use of both land and transport capacity with favorable environmental results. Expansion of transport infrastructure can reduce total pollution loads as congestion falls, on average.

Vehicle speeds rise, and routes are shortened. Road improvements can also encourage vehicle use and decrease emissions.

Therefore, additions to infrastructure capacity are only part of the solution. Improved management of traffic and land use and promotion of non-motorized modes, cleaner fuels, and public transport is also important. According to Pisarski (2013), transportation is indispensable to economic growth and the development of the human settlement.

1.2 Statement of the problem          

One of the key factors that play a pivotal role in a region’s economic growth is the presence of a reliable and efficient transportation system, this is mainly due to the fact that a well-developed transportation system provides adequate access to the region which in turn is a necessary condition for the efficient operation of manufacturing, retail, labor, and housing markets.

The bad road has been an impeding factor that limits the stress-free journey of people. Generation of revenue for the government from travelers and traders. Many businesses that are located in places that have bad roads are been left isolated due to their unreachability by the consumers.

Drivers and passengers face difficulties on the road while conveying goods and services to and fro their destinations.

Population growth of people in a particular location is determined by the rate at which they have eased to movement. Individuals face challenges with their work if they don’t have an access road to their places of work.

People tend to give up their jobs in an organization if they have difficulty going to work on a daily basis. When such is done, the income generated as a result of the job they quit will reduce. Investors find it difficult to establish companies in areas that are not motorable and easily accessible to people as a result of bad roads.

When bad roads hinder investment that creates employment and improves the living standard of people in a particular location, this affects the rate of income people make and in turn degenerates the revenue of the government.

Road infrastructure has been seen as a major cause of urbanization. When a particular place or area is not accessible to people, the development of that area’s infrastructure will be impeded. Reduction in the level of consumption to services rendered in those areas will reduce.

People migrate from rural to urban areas either for employment opportunities, urbanization, better infrastructure, all to better their living conditions.

When these factors are not achieved as a result of lack of access to good roads, they affect the rate of income and taxes that the government generates hence affecting economic growth and development.

In Cameroon, Molyko for example, lack of good roads in these areas has affected agricultural development and food distribution.

According to Fakayode (2004), agricultural products are mostly traded in small markets around the vicinity of farmer’s farm and this reduces the selling price of farm products compared to the price traded for them in bigger markets due to lack of good motorable roads. This study hence seeks to examine the effect of bad roads on the economic development of Molyko in Buea.

1.3 Research Questions

The study is guided by the following research questions:

Main research question

What are the effects of bad roads on Infrastructure in Molyko Buea?

Specific research question

1. What is the effect of bad roads on the Literacy rate?
2. What is the effect of bad roads on the rate of employment?

1.4 Objective of the study

The primary objective of the study is to examine the effect of bad roads on the economic development of Molyko Buea. Specifically, to:

Main research objectives

To discover the effect of bad roads on infrastructure in Molyko Buea.

Specific research question

1. To find out the effect of bad roads on the literacy rate in Molyko Buea.
2. To examine the effect of bad roads on the rate of employment in Molyko Buea.