By: Sulayman Waan
The high cost of goods in the country especially in the Greater Banjul Area has triggered unhappiness among the public leading to frustration of many businessmen and buyers in the markets.
Cross section of people told The Voice that the high prices of goods in markets is unspeakable. Among the people who share their view with this medium includes Mamat Salieu Sowe, a trader at Serekunda Market, she said the price of commodities such as sugar, rice, cooking oil and cookery ingredients had increased.
“The escalation of goods prices had caused lots of challenges for traders because our customers are always complaining, thinking that we are the cause of the hike price.” She therefore denied that sellers are not the cause of the price hike of good in markets. He added:
He disclosed that “Whenever, there is price hike our profit will be minimal and this means our work is meaningless and we will not have enough to take home for our families.”
Mr. Jallow urged government to put mechanism in place so as to address the frequent escalation of prices of goods in the market because everyone needs food to survive.
Mariama Camara, consumer said price of edible items are overprice, and it has become a nightmare and unfavorable to the poor.
She stated further that “all food items in the markets including rice, fish and other cookery ingredients are costly. We buy a cup of rice at D6 and D9 respectively depending on the type and your choice.”
For his part Edirisa Sanneh, commercial driver expressed concern over the recent increment of gas oil in the country. He classified it to be a challenge to every commercial driver across the nation because it increased from D 52.16 to D54.66 and it affects their earning.
Imad Ridah, a bakery owner also complained bitterly over the high cost of bakery materials such as flower, gas oil, yeast, ice bag, bread improvers among others.
Mr. Ridah explained that price of bread improver was D1650 before now it is D1800, yeast before D1250 now D1300, the price for a bag of flower was D975 but now D1050/D1075/D1250 respectively while a bag of ice block used to be sold at D125 now increased to D150.
“This is the reason why we are not producing bread presently. We are just working for the public such as bread suppliers, shopkeepers as well as the consumers but we are not earning anything,” he argued.
He lamented that the masses are blaming them for the increased put on the loaf of bread.
