The Gambian consumer is interested in buying cement of good quality at affordable prices. The cement should also be accessible and available at all times. Hence the minister should be monitoring the market in order to be able to identify gaps in quality, affordability, accessibility and availability. These gaps should be periodically addressed to satisfy the Gambian consumer and supplier.
It is the duty of the government in general and the ministry in particular to protect traders and consumers so that businesses will function profitably and the consumers adequately supplied based on demand.
At the moment, there are Gambian traders who are claiming that their businesses are being crippled by government’s biasness. The government should listen to them. That is the purpose of a government. What is now expected is for the cement importers to sit with the trade ministry to discuss each point which serves as a barrier to their businesses and therefore creates distortions that make consumers pay more for the same quality of cement that attracted lesser prices before.
Government should not cause inflation. It should reduce it. That is what makes economic sense if the government is truly a people centred government.
Foroyaa will continue to monitor this developing story and advocate for a solution the soonest.
