By Suwaibou Touray
A press release issued yesterday, 4th May, from the office of the
president of the Gambia and read out on GRTS television is informing the general public of its grave concern regarding what it described as “the rapid depreciation of the Gambian Dalasi” against all international currencies, especially the US Dollar.The exchange rate of the country, that is bordered on three sides by
Senegal, is now set at 50 dalasi per dollar this week, stated the
release.
It is further stated in the release that the amount of foreign
currency an individual can take out of the country at a time should
not exceed Ten Thousand US Dollars (US$10,000).
“No one is allowed to take more than 10,000 dollars without prior
approval from the office of the president and anyone found violating
this pronouncement will have his/her money forfeited to the state,”
the release stated.
The release also warned that anyone involved in hoarding foreign
currency should desist from it otherwise if found culpable, the person
will be charged and tried for economic crime.
On 25th November 2014, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the
Gambia Central Bank revealed that the Gambian Dalasi has depreciated
against the US dollar by 18.60 percent, Euro by 12.6 percent and Pound
Sterling by 20.10 percent.
However, the release added that the Dalasi’s rapid depreciation
reaching 50 dalasis to 1 dollar has prompted government to raise
concern over the issue, blaming foreign exchange speculators of
deliberately hoarding foreign currency which it said is an economic
crime.]]>
