By Ata Nchomba
Mamfe, Cameroon
The Mile 2 Motor Park in Mamfe is bringing small businesses in the area. One of those small businesses is Foundation Car Wash that was opened eight months ago by Romeo Akpa – a resident in the area. Mr. Akpa opened the car wash to serve owners of vehicles in the area and those entering and leaving the Motor Park.
With no steady water in the area, Mr. Akpa dug a well and powers it with a water pump. The water pump fills two reservoirs built high enough to provide water with pressure for the staff to wash cars.
Car Wash in Mile 2 Mamfe, Cameroon
The cost to wash the interior and exterior of a small car is 1, 000 francs CFA, and the cost to wash a buss’ interior and exterior is 1,500 francs CFA. Mr. Akpa charges less to only wash the exteriors of vehicles. Foundation Car Wash cleans 15 to 20 cars per day. Mr. Akpa believes that the number of cars washed per day will increase in the future.
Apart from washing cars, Foundation Car Wash also provides other services to its clients. The car wash has a mini snack bar
Two vehicles: a bus and a car at Foundation Car Wash Mile 2, Mamfe, Cameroon
where clients buy sandwiches, other eateries and cold drinks to refresh themselves. Little bans built from bamboo and roofed with grass serve as waiting places for clients and passengers awaiting travel from the Mile 2 Motor Park.
When asked what type of challenges the car wash faces? Mr. Akpa told iCameroon that, there are often electricity blackouts which interrupt the pumping of water. To solve this problem, he has a standby generator to supply electricity for the water pumps and the snack bar.
