Seven Months Without Pay Forces Workers to Revolt as Colonial Administration Rushes to Contain Growing Anger in the Capital of Fako
By Mbah Godlove l BaretaNews
Workers at the state-owned Buea Mountain Hotel in Buea, the historic capital of Ambazonia, have returned to work after staging a protest that exposed yet another example of what many Ambazonians describe as the colonial regime’s exploitation of Southern Cameroons’ resources and workforce. The workers only resumed their duties after an intervention by the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Fako, who hurried to the scene following mounting public outrage over the prolonged salary crisis.
On Friday, the aggrieved employees blocked the main entrance of the prestigious hotel, bringing activities to a standstill. Their action was driven by years of accumulated frustration, having endured seven consecutive months without salaries while many have reportedly worked for seven years without formal employment contracts. The protest highlighted what residents view as the systematic neglect of workers in Ambazonia by the Yaoundé regime.
Speaking to journalists during the demonstration, the workers painted a grim picture of their daily struggle. Many revealed they had fallen behind on house rent, could no longer afford their children’s school fees, and were finding it increasingly difficult to provide food for their families. Despite these hardships, they continued reporting for duty in the hope that the colonial administration would eventually honour its obligations.
Buea Mountain Hotel remains one of the most prominent event centres in Buea, hosting official ceremonies, conferences, and social gatherings throughout the year. Ironically, while the establishment continues to generate substantial revenue, the very workers responsible for keeping it operational have been left abandoned without their legitimate earnings.
Information gathered indicates that the hotel’s financial management remains firmly under the control of the regime in Yaoundé, where revenues generated from the facility are reportedly transferred to the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure before decisions are made regarding workers’ salaries. This centralized system has long been criticized by many Ambazonians as another mechanism through which wealth generated in Ambazonia is extracted while local institutions and workers continue to suffer neglect.
After waiting in vain for over seven months, the employees decided they could no longer remain silent. Their peaceful protest drew widespread attention and compelled the colonial administration in Fako County to respond. The intervention by the Senior Divisional Officer came only after the demonstration had disrupted operations at one of the territory’s busiest hospitality establishments.
Although authorities have not publicly disclosed the exact commitments made during
discussions with the workers, the employees have since suspended their protest and resumed their duties, allowing normal activities to return to the hotel. However, questions remain over whether the promised solutions will translate into the payment of outstanding salaries and meaningful reforms to end years of contractual uncertainty.
For many observers, the incident serves as yet another reminder of the deep-rooted governance failures associated with the centralized administration imposed from Yaoundé. The plight of the Buea Mountain Hotel workers continues to reinforce longstanding concerns that Ambazonian resources sustain state institutions while the people whose labour generates that wealth are left to endure hardship and economic injustice.
