Cameroonian authorities intensify fight against Monday ghost town

Government authorities in the crisis-hit English-speaking Regions of Cameroon are intensifying their fight against the tradition of Monday ghost towns, which have hampered educational and economic activities for several years.

The government is increasingly pushing for an end to them, aiming to rejuvenate economic and educational activities in these areas.

In the Fako Division of the South West, Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) Chaibou has taken a decisive stance, urging the population to cease the longstanding practice of declaring Mondays as non-working or ghost town days.

This call, made during ongoing tours to Subdivisions within his command, comes after six to seven years of widespread adherence to the tradition, a consequence of the protracted socio-political crisis in the Anglophone regions.

The tradition of ghost towns on Mondays was initially instituted by Anglophone lawyers and teachers in 2016 as a peaceful way of pressuring the government to look into their grievances.

But independence-seeking Ambazonia separatists later began using force to enforce ghost towns every Monday.

Over the years, this separatists’ enforcement has led to the closure of offices, businesses, schools, and various economic activities, resulting in substantial economic, educational, and general losses for the regions.

Government efforts to curb the ghost town phenomenon have faced persistent challenges over the years.

However, recent developments indicate a renewed push against the practice.

On September 28, the South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, rallied Chiefs and key officials of the Region to discuss strategies to counteract ghost towns.

The SDO of Fako appears to be implementing decisions arising from the meeting, where the Governor instructed attendees to take charge against ghost towns in their areas of command.

After the meetings, officials like the Mayor of Buea, David Mafani Namange, took to the streets to enforce compliance. He warned that the Council would permanently shutdown businesses that were closed on Mondays under the pretext of ghost town.

The fight against ghost towns has not only been a matter of policy but has also evolved into a revenue-generating strategy for the Buea council.

Shop owners, whose premises were sealed, reportedly paid substantial sums, up to FCFA 50,000, to the Council for the unsealing of their businesses.

SDO Chaibou’s strategy involves raising awareness among local councils in the Fako Division.

In a meeting at the Limbe I Council Hall on November 16, he stated, “No more ghost towns on Mondays,” indicating the necessity for a collective effort to revitalize economic activities.

Chaibou urged Councils to ensure that all economic operations resume on Mondays, cautioning that those who defy this directive risk having their premises sealed.

The campaign gained support from local leaders, including Paramount Chief of Limbe, HRH John Manga Williams, and Chief David Nanyowe of Bonadikombo.

The Paramount Chief pledged to mobilize quarter heads to disseminate the SDO’s message and eliminate the practice of observing Mondays as ghost town days.

The SDO’s ongoing campaign spans Muyuka, Buea, Tiko Idenau, and Limbe I, with plans to extend to Limbe II and III Subdivisions.

Similar efforts to combat the intense ghost town phenomenon are underway in Bamenda, the North West Region’s headquarters.

Despite the economic losses incurred in the Anglophone Regions due ghost towns, certain businesses, such as drinking spots, thrive on these quiet Mondays.

Mimi Mefo Info