By Amadou Manjang
A group representing cement importers and traders accused the Gambian government on Tuesday of fueling a nationwide cement shortage and dramatic price hike through restrictive import policies that favor a handful of domestic companies.
At a press conference held near the Sukuta-Jabang Traffic Light, the Cement Importers and Traders Association alleged that a government ban on importing cement overland from Senegal has choked supply, creating what they called a de facto monopoly benefiting three local firms: Jah Oil, Gacem, and Salam.
“The government allows these companies to import and sell, but they cannot meet the market demand,” said Bubacarr Mbaye, president of the association. “When we were importing from Senegal, we supplied a significant portion of the market. Now, because we’re out, prices have gone from D375 to D500.”
The Ministry of Trade last year prohibited the importation of cement into The Gambia by road, requiring instead that all imports arrive by sea. While the policy was publicly framed as a move to boost local industry, importers say it has led to widespread shortages and delayed deliveries, slowing construction projects across the country.
Mbaye said the current supply chain is riddled with inefficiencies. He claimed that traders and retailers are forced to wait up to 20 days after payment to receive cement from domestic suppliers. “This clearly shows there is a shortage,” he said, adding that his own company paid for 10 truckloads of cement on May 15 and had received only two trucks by May 23.
Another importer, Baba Drammeh, condemned what he described as the monopolization of the cement trade by a select few companies. “This is not only wrong, it is unjust,” he said. “The Gambian people are paying the price. This shortage and price increase will cost billions.”
Entrepreneur and logistics manager Momodou Jobe argued that the current policy had “failed” and urged the government to reconsider. “It is time for the government to realize that allowing only a few companies to dominate such a critical sector is hurting the economy,” he said.
Alagie Mbaye, another member of the association, warned that the spike in cement prices would ripple through the economy, raising the cost of construction and, ultimately, rent—further straining household budgets.
“We are not against local industries,” Mbaye said. “But the government must ensure that all Gambians have equal opportunity to participate in the cement market.”
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