(Business in Cameroon) - Cameroon’s Ministry of Trade has intensified its fight against rising living costs, with Trade Minister Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana personally visiting an ongoing discount fair in Yaounde to monitor compliance with reduced prices on essential goods. The fair, which began on 18 November, is part of the government’s year-end campaign against inflation and will continue until 10 January 2026. The market, hosted on the 20th May Boulevard, comprises hundreds of white tents stretching across several hundred metres. Under these tents, vendors offer staple products such as rice, flour, meat, plantains, and oils at discounted prices.

During his inspection, Minister Mbarga Atangana walked through the aisles, engaging with stall managers to verify that prices remain within the limits set by the government. “The idea is to support families as much as possible,” the minister said, highlighting the campaign’s objective to ease household expenses during the festive period.

Price reductions at the fair are substantial. Bone-in beef is sold at 2,300 FCFA, while boneless cuts cost 2,700 FCFA, down from the usual 3,000 FCFA in conventional markets. Local rice is offered in 5 kg bags at 3,900 FCFA, or 800 FCFA per kilogram, while imported 50 kg bags are available for 15,500 FCFA. Powdered milk (900 g) is sold at 5,500 FCFA, down from 6,000 FCFA, and laundry powder is priced at 5,700 FCFA, with a free sachet included. Vegetable oils have also seen reductions: a one-litre bottle costs 1,400 FCFA, a three-litre container is 4,100 FCFA, and a five-litre container is 7,200 FCFA, down from 7,500 FCFA.

The fair has attracted large crowds, showing public support for the initiative. Marthe Nken, a regular visitor, said she attends every year because “you don’t find these prices in our usual markets.” Vendors, for their part, have welcomed the initiative as a way to contribute to national efforts to reduce the cost of living. Angèle Nguele, a stall manager, described the campaign as “a citizen contribution that helps lighten the household basket.”

Unlike previous editions, this year’s fair started earlier than usual and will run for two whole months, giving families ample time to stock up on essential goods. The initiative also prioritises direct-to-consumer sales, cutting out intermediaries to ensure that price reductions reach households effectively.

The government’s action comes amid rising inflation. According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Cameroon’s consumer price index increased by 5.3% year-on-year in January 2025, highlighting the need for interventions to protect household purchasing power. Last month, the Minister of Trade also warned supermarkets against unjustified price hikes, deploying inspection teams to enforce approved pricing. While Yaounde hosts the flagship fair, the Ministry of Trade has announced plans to extend the campaign nationwide via mobile markets, including universities and regional towns, to broaden access to discounted essentials.

Mercy Fosoh