Great Soppo Market Moved to Molyko

The population of Buea in general and Great Soppo in particular, are actively preparing for the creation of a new market in the Molyko neigbhourhood. The new market, expected to go operational as from August 28.

After the announcement by the Mayor of the Buea Council, Mbella Moki Charles that the roadside Great Soppo market will no longer hold on Tuesdays and Saturdays at its present site, the information was received with a lot of mixed feelings by the population. However, most of the traders have been registering to acquisition of space at the new market site in Molyko.

The reasons advanced for changing the market site are numerous. The Mayor explained that the new market, expected to operate daily, is going to serve as the Buea Central

Market, given that the municipality does not have any. He added that the reasons for displacing the market include decongesting traffic on the main road, creating a bigger space for traders and to beautify the town as part of activities of celebrations marking the 50th Anniversary of Cameroon's Reunification to hold in Buea.

Another reason advanced is that the present market site is on a private and not council land. By Wednesday August 22, most traders selling in the Great Soppo market and other interested persons had enrolled their names for a place in the new site. Also, the present market site had been cleared of the temporal structures that made it an eyesore.

Anthony Mbua, a trader in handbags reacting to the delocalization of the market said, "It is going to affect my business negatively because Molyko is a student residential area. The students will be the ones to determine the prices of my goods." Mr. Njikang Thomas another trader holds that, "Molyko should have a market as well as Great Soppo. The movement of the market will lead to an increase in the fare we normally pay to transport goods to the market, which can result in price increase."

Meanwhile, others consider it a God-sent opportunity. "I am happy because I can now own a shed. I will be more secured since I will finally become a landlady," said Mrs. Enow, a petty trader.