Tiko Wharf 'breastfeeding' neighbouring countries

Over 155.000 tons of agricultural and horticultural products were shipped from Cameroon in 2008 to its neighbours in the CEMAC sub-region worth about 38 billion cfa frs representing 0.4% GDP for the country. Much of trade passes through the Tiko Wharf in Fako Division in the South West Region.

"The Tiko port was originally constructed by the Germans. It was a wooden pier sufficient for one ship. In 1953, a concrete wharf was constructed and it was formally opened on September 16, 1954 by Dr. E.M.L. Endeley. The new wharf that was built and managed by the Cameroons Development Corporation could take vessels over 100 metres long and up to 1000 tons. The transit sheds could contain 2.300 tons of cargo; there were five banana elevators, a pipeline for bulk petrol and fuel-oil supplies for Tiko Town area.

Today, 53 years after reunification, Tiko Wharf though a bare skeleton of itself, still "breastfeeds" its neighbours.

The Green Vision visited the wharf to confirm this and met some over 15 young men transferring parcelled agricultural products, brought from villages in and around the southwest region to a ship.

"Cameroon is the mother country when it comes to providing food especially to a country like Equatorial Guinea. We ship produce like pepper, tomatoes, onions, cabbage, plantains, fruits, beans, groundnuts, potatoes and garri to Malabo. We ship close to 100 tons of agricultural products to Malabo monthly," said Moses Ayuk Kebi, Operations Manager of a shipping line.

Pointing to other boats at the Tiko seaport, Ayuk said "those shipping lines you see over there bring goods like plastics, cosmetics and other general provisions from Calaba in Nigeria to Cameroon and in turn take back onions, bananas, yams and other foodstuff."

The Green Vision learnt that most of the goods exported through the Tiko Wharf are purchased from local markets; some are sent by farmers from villages in and around the Region including Tiko, Bamenda, Mutengene, Buea.

Before reunification, the Tiko steamship services were maintained by Elders and Fyffes to the United Kingdom loaded with bananas, mail and first class passengers at four to five days intervals. At Victoria, there was anchorage for light vessels in Ambas Bay with lighterage for cargo and passengers.