By Daniella N. Ngum with reports from Bamenda and Buea
It is now customary for people to stay home, as well as businesses closed on Mondays, within the South West and North West regions.
All effort by the administration and other stakeholders to put an end to this new order of things is almost proving abortive, for it appears the idea of observing ghost towns has become normal to inhabitants within these two regions, perhaps as normal as the air they breathe.
The most recent appeal for people to resume work and be active on Mondays came from the Limbe City Council, during which business persons in the town of Limbe did pledge they will engage in their activities normally come Monday October 15 2018. However, the pledge was not honoured, as only a few bikes could be seen plying the roads, with no vehicle and all stores closed.
The situation in Mile 4, which is being seen as the war zone in Limbe was more serious, as even animals could be hardly seen on the streets.
Elsewhere, it is reported, that the ghost town syndrome continued to get a hold of the people.
Whether people still observe ghost towns because they are scared for their safety and property, or they are sympathizing with those who implement it, or whether they are taking a rest after the weekend, remain questions to be answered.
Life timidly returns
Activities in the towns of Kumba, Buea and others in the South West and even Bamenda in Mezam in the North West, have gradually gained steam after a ten-day ghost towns and complete lock down of circulation observed in these regions.
The lock down from October 1 to the 10 was in response to calls by separatist fighters that those days will be very dangerous and circulation in and out of these regions will be halted. This however, restricted the movement of persons, and food scarcity was observed, which led to an increase in the prices of basic commodities.
In Kumba, city dwellers have expressed joy with the final start of activities and the free circulation and supply of food items, basic commodities, products and the movement of persons in and out of the town.
“Life has not been easy for these past 10 days, but we just thank God that we are alive and have started carrying out our normal activities. We pray that the prices of commodities and more especially food items go back to normal and may we have the peace that we once enjoyed in this part of the country”, a carpenter noted.
Most parents disclosed that they had difficulties managing their families during that period due to the scarcity of food stuffs and the increase in the prices of these commodities.
Visiting the Kumba Main Market, all is gradually returning to normal since most commodities are now available in the market in considerable prices.
While praying that things finally returns to normal they further thank God for seeing them through this difficult period.
Inter-urban transport goes operational
Transporters of Meme Division who were almost going out of business have expressed great joy with the gradual return of most Kumba City dwellers who travelled to other areas they considered safe for fear of the unknown during the electoral campaign period and the election day.
Their return has been highly observed in local travelling agencies as returnees and their belongings continue to flood these parks after the presidential election and the end of the Wednesday October 10th ghost town deadline.
Some drivers who spoke to The SUN prayed for the continuous return of the population so that activities especially those of their sector can fully gain steam.
“We did not go to work for close to two weeks, we are happy that we can go to work now. It was not easy to cope at home with the children and to provide food for them during the entire period”, a driver said.
The return of the population to the town according to many might have been triggered by the fear of the possible outcome of the final result of the Presidential election.