Public Policy Implementation and Public Welfare in Cameroon: An Assessment of the Role of the South West Regional Assembly in Rural Electrification Programmes

Electricity scarcity remains a major development challenge in the South West Region of Cameroon, with far-reaching implications for public welfare. Inadequate and unreliable electricity supply in rural communities constrains economic activities and undermines access to essential services such as potable water, health care, education, security, and livelihoods. Despite Cameroon’s decentralization policy and the establishment of Regional Assemblies to enhance grassroots development, the implementation of rural electrification programmes by the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) has remained ineffective. This study examines the extent to which inefficient public policy implementation of rural electrification programmes by the SWRA affects the welfare of citizens in the South West Region. The study is anchored in public policy implementation theory (top-down, bottom-up, and hybrid approaches), institutional welfare theory, and welfare state theory. A mixed-method research design was adopted. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings reveal a significant relationship between insufficient electricity supply and adverse public welfare outcomes. Inadequate electrification limits access to potable water by constraining water supply and purification systems, resulting in increased incidence of water-borne diseases in rural communities. The study further establishes that insufficient and delayed financial transfers from the central government significantly weaken the SWRA’s capacity to facilitate, implement, and sustain electrification projects. Additional challenges include the abandonment of projects due to insecurity associated with the Anglophone crisis, engagement of unqualified contractors, inadequate monitoring, and the use of substandard materials, all of which compromise safety, security, and service delivery. The study concludes that ineffective implementation of rural electrification policies by the Regional Assembly significantly undermines public welfare and recommends strengthened institutional coordination, enhanced financial autonomy, and improved technical and monitoring capacity.