By Awa K Sanneh
Market vendors voiced out their anxiety and frustration over the continuous rise in price of commodities, as Ramadan draws closer.
The Gambia has seen a rapid rise in price of commodities in recent time which is beyond control.
Alagie Madi Ceesay explained that onion has no fixed price but one thing is that when importers make an order to replenish their stock and before they run out of stock they will increase the price as they “can increase from D300 to D400 and presently a bag of onion is D600.”
He said Irish potato is cultivated in the country and the price is D400 per bag but when imported ones arrive in the country the price will go up.
Breaking down prices of commodities in the market, he said the price of oil before was D1100 but the wholesale now is D1400 and the retail price cost D1450, Sugar is D1500 but before it cost D1100 or D1200 but “as Ramadan is approaching let’s expect the price or prices to be higher.”
This is due to the fact that “in Ramadan prices of commodities like sugar, vegetable or palm oil, onion and Irish potato always rise because demand for these commodities will be high and the importers will take advantage of that and increase the price of commodities as they like.”
Jainaba Bayo as well complained about the present prices of commodities in the market.
