Bamenda Denizens Lament Hikes In Basic Foodstuff, Cost of Living

By Timfuchi Aaron

The city of Bamenda has been hit by a geometric increase of basic commodities. Residents of the town say the prices of basic necessities and foodstuff like rice, salt; cooking oil have continued to rise causing their standards of living to continue to drop.

A cup of rice in Bamenda now sells at 150frs-200frs and the quantity of tomatoes have also reduced, they say.

According to Mercy Ntum, she has now turned to other substitutes for her household at the expense of their preferred meals: ”at first I used to buy tomatoes for 500 FRS and it will last for about a week. Now, I buy tomatoes and they do not last up to two days. I’m now forced to cook other foods that my children do not like. They like rice so much but I can’t give them rice” she says.

According another resident of the town,, Livanus Nyom, life has become so difficult.

“I used to give my wife 15,000 FRS for food money and it will be enough. Now I have to give her 25,000 FRS for food. The situation has become worse that every one is selling just at his or her own price and people just decide to add prices as they will,” he explains.

The regional delegate of Trade for the Northwest region, Foncha Ghogomoh has attributed the price hikes to the ongoing crisis in the region.

Many youths, he explained, have escaped from the villages and the few farmers left are not also into effective cultivation.

To him, “… the little they produce are transported with difficulties to the town. These make these farmers to add prices to make profit”.

He further promised that “price controllers shall visit all markets and make sure the homologation prices are respected”.

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