Commerce Minister Warns against Didactic Material Price Hike

Cameroon’s Minister of Commerce, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, has sent out warnings against the sale of didactic materials at exorbitant prices as the next academic year is set to kick off.

He passed the warning in a release he signed on August 31, 2023.

“Faced with the unjustified increase in the prices of certain school materials and supplies, the Minister of Commerce, Mr. Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, has the honour to launch a solemn appeal for good citizenship, aimed at those operating in this sector of activity…,” stated the Commerce Minister in the communiqué.

He went ahead to remind them that the price of the items concerned is subject to prior approval by the Administration.

In this light, traders found guilty of the unjustified increase will, following firm instructions given to the services in charge of law enforcement at the Ministry of Commerce, be tracked down.

“In addition to the sanctions provided for by the texts in force, overpayments collected are subject to an automatic and systematic payment to the Public Treasury, accompanied by any possible increase,” Luc Magloire Mbarga went on.

Marie, a Buea-based mother of two, confirmed to MMI how tough this year’s back-to-school has been for her considering the drastic increase in prices of school materials for her kids.

She said, “This year has been terrible. Not only has my business not been going smoothly, but here I am forced to face the high prices given to the school materials of my children”.

Marie went on to add that, “just purchasing a school bag for them was not an easy task. Not to talk of their uniforms and the other things they will be needing for school resumption.”

Just like Marie, several other parents are forced to put in extra effort in their daily activities in order to keep up with the fast-rising increase in the price of these didactic materials, which their children need to pursue their education.