Kye-Ossi : Drastic Drop In Commercial Activities

Trade in goods has witnessed a decline in markets at the Kye-Ossi border town of Cameroon in the South Region. The locality which shares boundaries with Equatorial Guinea and Gabon before the outbreak of Coronavirus enjoyed affluence in trade and the exchange of goods as a transit zone. With the closure of the borders as a measure to curb the movement of persons and subsequently avoid the spread of the pandemic, the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, in his capacity as current President of CEMAC Heads of State instructed continuous trade with member states without prejudice to the health check of drivers. On that trade, trade continues with CEMAC countries but with a slower steam.
A visit to markets in Kye-Ossi was met with a timid atmosphere. The turnout was not usual with many shops closed due to little or no buyers. Markets which usually closed between 6pm and 7pm now close at 4pm. It was equally observed that business persons who sell second-handed shoes come to the market in the morning and by 10am, they close their stores and retire home in search of other income-generating activities. The Vice President of the association of shop owners at the Kye-Ossi main market, Gibrille Afoudo, who sells kitchen utensils said business is on a serious decline, a situation which they have never experienced. "Selling to feed the family is very difficult now. If I sell too much in one day, it is FCFA 2,000. It is not easy," he cried. "Our main customers are Gabonese and Equatorial Guineans. With the closure of the borders to persons, we are suffering.  We just come and sit in the market, exchange pleasantries and wait for 4pm to close and go home. I do not even yet have a plan B," he stated.
For the measures taken to maintain hygiene, mobile fabricated taps are installed at the entry and exit points of the market for the washing of hands. Council and health officials constantly sensitise the population on the importance of hand washing, which is the most basic of all ways in combating the spread of the virus.  As per the goods which mostly get into Cameroon from Gabon, bread, biscuits and sardine are most common. Most often than not, cargo trucks which transported good stuffs to Gabon return empty for reloading. Nothing at the moment enters the Cameroonian market from Equatorial Guinea. Go...