Prices Soar, Festive Cheer Takes a Hit in Bamenda

By Zera Nambu

As Christmas approaches, Bamenda residents are facing a harsh reality, the festive season is becoming increasingly unaffordable. Prices of staple foods, transportation, clothing, and basic amenities have skyrocketed, putting a strain on household budgets.

At the Food Market, five liters of cooking oil now costs almost double of what it was few months ago. Rice, a staple in many Cameroonian households, has also become more expensive, forcing families to reduce quantities or switch to alternatives.

Local foodstuffs like cocoyams, beans, and plantains are not spared, with traders citing increased demand and transportation costs as reasons for the hikes. Christmas is supposed to be a time of sharing, but things are becoming too costly,” said a buyer.

Transportation fares have also taken a hit, with commercial motorbike riders and taxi drivers citing increased fuel prices and maintenance costs.

Commuters are feeling the pinch, paying more to travel within the city or to nearby villages.

Clothing prices are also out of reach, especially those of children and traditional attires. Traders blame high import costs and festive demand for the price hikes.

Parents are worried about meeting their children’s expectations this holiday season.

As a result, some residents are prioritizing essential needs over celebrations.

“We just want to make our children happy in days like this because we leave in a region where celebrations are done under fear. This is the only opportunity to make them happy and relax on that day,” says a parent.

Traders argue that price increases are driven by market forces, and high demand