Bamenda III authorities give Foncha Junction roadside traders final warning to relocate

Traders operating along the busy Foncha Junction in Bamenda III Subdivision have been given what authorities describe as a final opportunity to relocate to the newly constructed Ntasen Market, with enforcement measures expected to begin after Wednesday, June 10.

Divisional Officer Ayuni Austin Sakah addresses traders during a sensitisation campaign at Foncha Junction, urging them to relocate to the newly constructed Ntasen Market in Bamenda III.

The announcement was made during a sensitisation exercise led by the , , alongside officials of the . Armed with a megaphone, the administrative authority toured the roadside market area, urging vendors to vacate the public highway and move to the council-built market facility located in the .

For years, small-scale foodstuff vendors have occupied sections of Foncha Junction, particularly on Wednesdays and Fridays. In recent years, clothing and shoe traders have also joined the growing informal market, transforming parts of the junction into a busy commercial hub.

Speaking at the end of the sensitisation mission, the Divisional Officer said authorities could no longer tolerate the occupation of public roads for commercial activities.

"We are there for the population. We came out with the Mayor of Bamenda III on a sensitisation mission concerning traders who are selling on the highway and occupying the public way anarchically. It is a danger not only to themselves but also to those who come to buy," Ayuni Austin Sakah said.

DO Ayuni Austin interacting with the vendors

He noted that the Bamenda III Council had invested in constructing a modern market equipped with facilities for traders, but many had remained reluctant to relocate.

"We cannot allow disorder in the name of fighting poverty. The two must work together according to the law," he stated.

According to the Divisional Officer, the council has spent months encouraging traders to move voluntarily to the Ntasen Market. He described the latest exercise as a final warning before authorities take further action.

"The Mayor has been carrying out this sensitisation at the council level, but many traders have remained reticent. We are giving them a last chance," he said.

Authorities also linked the relocation exercise to broader and efforts.

"The council needs revenue to develop the municipality. If nobody occupies the market, the council will not generate the revenue needed for development," the Divisional Officer added.

However, several traders interviewed by Hilltopvoices expressed concerns about relocating to the new site. Some cited security fears linked to the ongoing socio-political crisis affecting the North West Region, while others questioned the suitability of the market's location, which is situated in an area historically prone to flooding.

One trader who requested anonymity said many vendors fear becoming easy targets in a less populated area.

"We are not refusing development. We just want to be sure our goods and our lives will be safe there. Here at the junction there are always people around and business is easier," the trader said.

Vendors with DO Aynui Austin

Responding to concerns about security, the Divisional Officer assured traders that measures were being put in place to protect the market and its users.

"There is no way government can put security behind every individual. We have our own strategies of making sure that public structures are secure," he explained.

He revealed that an existing security post located below Foncha would be reinforced to provide additional protection around the market.

"I want to assure the public and those who will be selling there that there will be enough security," he said.

Addressing fears over flooding, Ayuni Austin Sakah said studies had been conducted before construction began and acknowledged that the area had previously experienced flood risks.

"Before the council built that market, studies were carried out. The council has invested heavily in enlarging the riverbed and this year we have all witnessed that flooding has almost reduced to zero," he said.

He added that efforts to improve drainage and further expand the river channel would continue until the area is fully secured against flooding.

The Deputy Mayor of Bamenda III Council, Margaret Ndzelen, also sought to reassure traders about access to market space and sheds.

"If you have followed us over the last two or three months, people are already occupying the market. The market master is there, I am always there, and the Mayor is there from time to time," she said.

According to her, traders wishing to obtain sheds or trading spaces simply need to report to the market administration.

"Some have already taken sheds, some have taken spaces, and there is still much space available. Any arrangements now will be handled at the market office," she explained.

As the June 10 deadline expires, attention will now turn to how authorities enforce the relocation order and whether traders who have depended on the roadside market for years will comply with the directive.

The exercise forms part of broader efforts by local authorities to decongest major roads, improve urban order and increase the utilisation of public infrastructure constructed for commercial activities.

By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web

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