Its customers in Buea and Limbe were yet to be served at press time.

The Buea and Limbe branches of FIFFA (First Investment For Financial Assistance) micro-finance institution were thronged Tuesday September 11 with customers to be served. Most of them were there to withdraw money they had saved for diverse purposes.

Despite assurances that customers will be served, the wait was still long for no withdrawal was made at press time. At the New Town Branch of FIFFA in Limbe, despair could be read on the faces of customers who could not understand why money they had painstakingly saved was not available. When journalists visited the FIFFA branch New Town Limbe Tuesday, workers were behind counters but no payment was done at midday. Journalists inquired with a senior FIFFA staff but she rebuked: “You journalists have written trash and dragged us in mud. Now you are coming for information. Go to the Head Office at Gardens because there is a special information service there!”

Meanwhile, at the Buea branch of FIFFA situated at the Molyko University Road Junction, the atmosphere was calm but disturbing. The workers were sitting listlessly. Accosted to know about the situation, a female staff of FIFFA Buea said: “Everything is fine. We have been paying out the requested money to our customers. Some customers are equally saving but for the money transfer services which have been suspended for the moment.”

Cameroon Tribune spent some 30 minutes at FIFFA Buea but observed no transaction between the workers and customers. Weary of waiting, a female customer complained not getting her money. “I have come to withdraw my money here at FIFFA Buea branch. The officials said we should wait. Many customers got tired of waiting and have left. But I must wait because I need my money.”

CT had earlier persisted to get more details. We contacted the General Manager of FIFFA S.A. Madam Ndzomo née Nguina Ngobo in the morning of Monday 10^th September 2012. On phone, she agreed to grant CT an interview the next day Tuesday 11^th September 2012 “between 9:30 and 10 am.” While CT reporters had made it up to Limbe for the interview, we received her phone call at 8 am to cancel the appointment. She apologetically said she was “very busy with recovery”. She promised to call the press at a later date to give details on the situation of FIFFA.