By Nelson Manneh
The political crisis in the country is affecting businesses in the Kanifing Municipality. This reporter, yesterday, 17 January, 2017 visited the main market in Serrekunda and the Brikama – Serrekunda highway and found out that many shops have closed down.
At the Serrekunda market, this reporter met some women who came to buy foodstuffs but were unable to get all that they wanted from the market as many vendors were not there to sell.
Speaking to one Fanta Kujabi, she said her husband is a soldier and has given her money to come to the market to buy food for their consumption for a week.
“In the market, I only found few vendors around as many of them have either left for their home villages in the provinces or fled outside to their home countries because of fear of imminent trouble,” she noted.
According to Madam Kujabi, the prices of some basic commodities have already started increasing because of short supply.
Momodou Bailo Bah, who is a bread distributor, said some of his colleagues who bake bread especially ‘’Tappa Lappa’’ have left the country and that he is facing the problem of being unable to supply all his customers.
“I’m sure in the next few days, if the situation does not improve, there will be scarcity of bread in town,” he warned.
Mr. Bah said he is appealing to the outgoing president to agree to a smooth transfer of power for peace to prevail in the country.
Patrick Gilbert, a Sierra Leonean national, who sells spare parts along the Brikama Westfield highway, said business nowadays is very dull as he is not making sales.
He said he is also appealing to President Jammeh to help preserve the peace which the Gambia is known for as one of the countries in the sub-region which has been providing refuge for refugees from Sierra Leone, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, etc.
Only few shops are opened
