In the congested food market of Bamenda, a growing number of fish consumers are unhappy with Congelcam, one of the largest fish suppliers in the region.
Founded in 1944, Congelcam, or Congelés du Cameroun, is a company specialising in the nationwide distribution and sale of Cameroonian seafood products.
Recently, allegations of fraudulent practices by the company have sparked outrage, with many residents claiming they are being overcharged and denied proper receipts for their purchases.
Fraudulent receipts?
The most common complaint centers around the issuance of receipts. According to multiple consumers, Congelcam’s sales agents often refuse to provide the official machine-generated receipts that accurately reflect the weight and cost of the fish. They also issue handwritten or duplicate receipts with inflated prices, leading to significant discrepancies in billing.
One Bamenda resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her recent experience at the food market. “I had my fish weighed, and the machine showed it was 1 kilogram at 1400 FRS. But the sales agent told me it was 2000 FRS. When I questioned the difference, he issued two receipts: one with the correct 1400 FRS bill and another with the 2000 FRS bill,” she recounted. This practice has left many residents feeling cheated and distrustful of Congelcam’s services.
The resident is not alone. Others have come forward with similar accounts, painting a disturbing picture of systematic overcharging and deceptive practices. Another consumer, who preferred to be called Gennet, expressed her frustration: “It’s infuriating. You think you’re getting a fair deal, but then you realize you’ve been overcharged. It’s stealing, plain and simple.”
Endless injustice?
The mounting complaints suggest a widespread issue that has yet to be addressed by the company or local authorities.
Community members say they want Congelcam to rectify these practices and ensure transparency in their transactions. “It’s unacceptable for a company of this size to engage in such fraudulent behavior. The people of Bamenda deserve honesty and fairness,” said Swirri, another local consumer who opted for anonymity said.
Residents are demanding an investigation into Congelcam’s practices. They are calling on local authorities to intervene and hold the company accountable for any wrongdoing. There is also a push for stricter enforcement of consumer protection laws to prevent such incidents from recurring.
“We want Congelcam to generate and hand out receipts always, to prove they are not stealing from us,” said a resident.
The residents of Bamenda remain hopeful that their voices will be heard and that measures will be taken to protect consumers from unethical business practices.
