By: Aminata Jallow
Scores of vendors and consumers at the Serekunda market have lamented the soaring price of essential commodities as the holy month of Ramadan fast-approaches.
The Gambia is currently going through tough economic times and the situation has hit all sectors of the economy hard.
Ndey Jatta, a vendor at Serrekunda market expressed frustration, saying she’s always in dilemma as regards the prices of basic commodities.
“We are not even making sales as we used to, which is difficult for us, and wholesale prices of vegetables are becoming expensive by the day. So, purchasing expensive vegetables and not making sales at the end of the day is a big challenge for us,” she stated.
Another vendor Ndey Fatou claimed that the prices of fish are higher than usual as they no longer buy fish directly from the fishermen because the fish are weighed before being sold to them. She explained that most of the consumers also buy fish at the shore instead of coming to the market. This, she lamented, has been affecting their income.
Consumers Amie Sarr and Fatou Kanyi said the market “is not in a favorable state” as most of the essential goods needed for Ramadan such as cooking oil, onions, potatoes, and other essential items have become very expensive.
“We are pleading with the government of The Gambia and the agency or department responsible for price control consider the wellbeing of the people as things are now spiraling out of hand,” the duo stated.