Council insists water and electricity must be secured before traders move in, as a flagship ILO supported project reaches completion in Bamenda III.
The Mayor of Bamenda III, Fongu Cletus Tanwe, has clarified why the newly constructed Ntasen Market is yet to become operational, despite works having been completed and formally received by the council.
The explanation followed concerns raised during a statutory council session in Nkwen, Bamenda on the 23 December 2025, where the councillor for the area, who also serves as Second Deputy Mayor, Margaret Ndzelen, urged the council executive to ensure the market is opened to traders without further delay.
Responding to the preoccupation, the Mayor said the council was deliberately holding back the opening until basic utilities, notably water and electricity, are fully in place. He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the national water and electricity supply companies to guarantee reliable connections to the market.
“It would not be reasonable to open a modern market without water and electricity,” the Mayor explained, emphasing that doing so would undermine hygiene standards, security and the long term sustainability of the facility.
The clarification builds on commitments outlined during the recent statutory council session, where the Mayor emphasised that infrastructure projects under the 2026 development agenda would prioritise functionality over haste.
The Ntasen Market project, located in the Bamenda III Subdivision, has been completed after facing multiple challenges linked to the ongoing unrest in the region. Despite these constraints, construction works were finalised, and the project was officially received on 8 July 2025 by the Mayor on behalf of the council.
The market was realised with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) under a pilot initiative that promotes the rehabilitation and maintenance of urban infrastructure through labour based approaches (HIMO). Beyond providing modern trading facilities, the project also contributed to local employment during construction.
During the reception ceremony, Mayor Fongu Cletus Tanwe commended the contractor and his team for delivering the project within record time, describing the outcome as a positive signal for recovery and development in the subdivision.
With utility connections now the final hurdle, council authorities say the opening of the Ntasen Market will follow once minimum operational conditions are met, allowing traders and residents to fully benefit from the long awaited facility.
