BAMENDA TRADERS PROTEST AGAINST HIGH RENTS

According to the traders from the Nkwen market in Bamenda, Northwest region of Cameroon, they complain that they already have ghost towns and the Anglophone crisis to deal with, and that their problems have been compounded by the increase in shop rents.

Traders are also complaining that, despite the inadequacy of market infrastructure and the current armed conflict, Bamenda town council has imposed significant rent increases.

Traders in other major markets, such as the main market and the Ntarinkon markets, which are all under the control of the local council and suffer from poor sanitary conditions and a lack of access to drinking water, have expressed similar concerns.

A trader currently paying 24,000 FCFA per quarter would now have to pay 32,000 FCFA for the same period, causing widespread frustration among traders. They feel that the increase in rents is unfairly high, especially given the lack of basic services such as drinking water and adequate sanitary facilities.

The protest follows a trend observed since January 2024, indicating continuing dissatisfaction among traders with market conditions. Despite the outcry, Bamenda City Council has not issued any statement on the situation, leaving the traders’ concerns unaddressed.

Delia Nyadi