By Bakah Derick
The North West Region of Cameroon is one of five regions not hosting matches of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021. Unlike Bertoua, Maroua and Ebolowa being other regional headquarters not hosting but organising fan zones and tournament villages, Bamenda is void of fervor.
According to the President of the North West Regional Assembly Prof Fru Angwafor, his institution could not organise any activity to offer football fans an opportunity to be part of the football feast together because of security concerns.
No municipal council in the city is organising an activity like their counterparts elsewhere.
Reports from nearby Nkambe, divisional headquarters of Donga Mantung talk of an AFCON village organised by the Council. Mayor Musa Shey Nfor organised the activity taking into consideration the calm his munispality has enjoyed so far.
Some local administrators speaking on condition of anonymity say there were proposals from for them to organise fan zones or AFCON villages.
"I could not do that because I didn't want to risk the lives of my people." One said
Away from the public institutionally organised activity in Nkambe, some individual initiatives have emerged. While others are going on, others have witnessed challenges. Armed individuals are said to have attacked a popular snack bar in Bamenda for assembling people to watch a Cameroon match. One of the workers was shot on the arm and is currently receiving treatment.
Around the upstation area, fan zones have been created. Upstation is an administrative area in Bamenda with heavy security deployment to protect state services and property.
Bamenda, the regional headquarter has remain restive like many other parts of the region in the last five years with regular gunshots, arrest and kidnappings. Non state armed groups have been operating in the area with anti campaigns against government related activities including the AFCON.
Though close to Bafoussam West Regional capital hosting matches, many fans have advanced several reasons why they can't go to watch matches.
"I can't go to Bafoussam to watch a match. Away from the fact that we are not hosting I could be considering to go watch matches but look at the road from here to Bafoussam. It is very bad. Bumpy and dusty. If that road was good it could take me 40mins driving there but look at the road, it now takes more than two hours. Worst of all the security checks on the way." Liforter Emmanuel said
Others have blamed the current armed conflict accusing the government for ignoring their suffering and high cost of tickets.
"It is a pity that we can be hosting AFCON and acting as if nothing is happening. We live here in permanent fear. With all the warnings we have been having on social media, I can't take a risk to go because I can be killed like those who have been killed here. I really would have love to go but I am not sure of what will happen to me on my way or when I return. Away from that, tickets are too expensive. I hear that the cheapest ticket is 3000.. We are in crisis and 3000 is not easy to have." Elvis noted.
As the football feast goes across the country, there is finite fervor in Bamenda.