Hajia Ushena has been elected President of the Nkwen Market Traders’ Trade Union after securing 80 votes against 23 for her opponent, while Tialo Faustin won the race for Vice President with 84 votes against 39 for his opponent.
The election took place on Thursday, October 29, at Nkwen Market in the presence of traders, the Market Mistress, Mme Azah Marie N., and presidents of other markets within the city of Bamenda.
The exercise marks a new chapter for the traders’ union, with the newly elected leaders expected to address concerns affecting business activities and improve working conditions at the market.
For outgoing president Tata Solomon, the successful conduct of the election brought to a close a demanding period of preparing for the transition. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, thanking those who worked to ensure the exercise went ahead successfully.
Solomon said organising the election had required considerable effort from his executive and the organising committee. He also stressed that the union’s leadership must serve the interests of traders and maintain a good working relationship with the Bamenda City Councill.
“The president is just a servant to the people, to the traders,” he said, explaining that the union’s responsibility includes presenting traders’ concerns to the authorities and working towards solutions.
Although leaving office, Solomon said he was prepared to continue supporting the union in an advisory capacity, expressing his willingness to work with the new executive to ensure the smooth running of the market.
For the newly elected president, the victory is an opportunity to tackle longstanding problems at Nkwen Market.
Hajia Ushena said she entered the race with the intention of bringing change and promoting unity among traders. Among her priorities are the provision of clean water through the construction of a borehole and improved access to electricity across the different sections of the market.
“We are going to have water. Clean water that can never cease,” she said, outlining her plan to improve access to basic services for traders.
She also promised to work with the City Council and other stakeholders, emphasising that cooperation would be necessary to achieve the goals she had set for her administration.
Ushena thanked the traders for the confidence they had placed in her and pledged to defend their interests. She said she was determined to justify their trust and work towards a more united and prosperous market.
Her election comes with expectations that the new executive will translate these commitments into practical improvements for the people who depend on Nkwen Market for their livelihoods.
Raoul Tedongmo, a trader at Nkwen Market, welcomed the choice of a woman to lead the union, describing it as a step towards recognising women's ability to take up leadership responsibilities.
He said the decision challenged traditional perceptions that leadership positions should be reserved for men, adding that women had demonstrated their capacity to contribute meaningfully to society.
Beyond the gender question, Tedongmo stressed the importance of having a union leadership that traders can approach when they face difficulties.
He explained that people working in the informal trading sector encounter challenges that require representation before the relevant authorities. A functioning union, he said, provides a channel through which their concerns can be raised and addressed.
For him, the new leadership offers an opportunity to strengthen that representation and ensure traders have a recognised voice when dealing with the authorities.
Newly elected Vice President Tialo Faustin described his election as an honour and thanked the organisers and traders for their participation and support.
He called on traders to put aside differences and work together for the good of the market, stressing that unity would be essential to achieving meaningful progress.
“Together, we can fight for one another and not against one another,” Faustin said.
He also acknowledged the role of the Bamenda City Council in market administration and called for continued cooperation between the council and the union.
His remarks reflected the expectations expressed during the election that the new executive should strengthen the union's representation while maintaining constructive relations with the authorities.
Mme Azah Marie N., the Market Mistress representing the Bamenda City Council at Nkwen Market, congratulated the traders on the conduct of the election and welcomed the emergence of the new leadership.
She also commended outgoing president Tata Solomon for his cooperation with the council during his tenure.
Azah described the Traders’ Union as an important partner in market administration, particularly in addressing issues affecting traders and the general business environment.
She acknowledged concerns relating to waste management, toilet facilities and the allocation of sheds, while pointing to council efforts to improve infrastructure and sanitation.
However, she emphasised that maintaining a clean and properly organised market requires the active participation of traders.
She called on the new executive to encourage members to respect market regulations, meet their statutory council obligations and take part in collective sanitation efforts.
The council, she indicated, looks forward to working with Ushena and her team to improve conditions at Nkwen Market.
With the election over, attention is now shifting to the responsibilities facing the new leadership.
Reliable water and electricity, improved sanitation, adequate toilet facilities and the management of market sheds remain among the issues traders want addressed.
Ushena and Faustin will be expected to turn their promises into tangible results while maintaining cooperation with the municipal council and other market stakeholders.
For the traders who voted, the change in leadership brings renewed expectations. The coming months will show how far the new executive can go in responding to their concerns and improving conditions at one of Bamenda's important commercial centres.
