Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Esther FOSSI
Published on 2024-03-25 11:28:55
This reconstruction comes after the fire that ravaged more than 300 shops in this market last February.
The 6 billion CFA franc contract was initiated by Mayor Acobong Tambeng Paul with the aim of providing a modern market to his community. Specifically, the funding was obtained through a loan from the communal development pool of FEICOM, which was approved by the members of the Bamenda municipal council.
“I asked the councilors to vote together on the plans for a market that will cost us a little over 6 billion CFA francs. They voted for it. I am happy and ready to move forward,” said the mayor in an interview with the national broadcaster, CRTV.
“It’s more than just a reconstruction,” Mayor Acobong declared. “We are envisioning a two-story complex with improved accessibility from all sides, a dedicated water well, and a modern electrical system.”
The February fire highlighted the urgent need for improvements, exacerbated by the interconnected aluminum roof and the narrowness of the market. The new market was designed with a strong emphasis on safety and functionality, addressing these concerns head-on.
The city council plans to build a modern and secure market. The new commercial space will be spacious, with shops spaced out to facilitate firefighting teams’ interventions in case of a potential fire on the site. It is worth mentioning that markets in Cameroon generally have high occupancy rates. Traders set up shop as they can, leading to difficult circulation due to the narrow access roads, further complicating firefighters’ intervention who often face the absence of fire hydrants on-site, especially when they have been blocked due to urban disorder.
The project has been entrusted to the construction company Edge, and work began on March 22, 2024.
Read the original article(French) on Journal du Cameroun
