The Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga has called on Cameroonians to make a conscious effort to regulate their consumption amid a general hike in commodity prices. He made the appeal during a press conference in Yaounde yesterday.
He cited the rise in wheat flour prices worldwide and its adverse effects being felt by Cameroonians. To handle such shocks, Mbarga said, Cameroonians must review their eating habits.
“The cost of wheat flour has increased within the last month by 20.7%, maize by 21.2% and gold by 32.2%,” he stated. The situation, the official went on, “… remains preoccupying, and will worsen in the days ahead if the crisis in Ukraine persists”.
To him, “we must stick together and change our feeding habits in order adapt to the present situation”.
The Minister’s remarks surprisingly come after an earlier denial by government of the rise in the price of basic items. The price hikes became more evident during the Africa Cup of Nations competition, AFCON. But government tried to save face, claiming those that pointed it out were detractors attempting to soil the country’s good reputation.