Recently, the issue of the high cost of living, precisely food, has persistently dictated the direction of global discourse.  

All along the ordinary people had been chitchatting, at least for as far as we know here in The Gambia. Little did some of us know that businessmen themselves have constraints! The recent call on the office of the President by members of the Manufacturers Association of the Gambia, suggests how intricate the situation is. Nonetheless, the formation of such a fraternity was in fact a giant step towards confronting inevitable problems in the business community. The members highlighted salient issues, among them: affordability of electricity and land accessibility.

We should say lucky them, because this is The Gambia. There has never been an iota of doubt as to the APRC government’s commitment towards empowering the private sector in The Gambia. But, as the president said, the plight of consumers, who make up the majority, comes first. Surely the assembled businessmen themselves are aware of that.

The atmospherefor business in this country, especially Gambian-owned businesses, has been the must conducive in the sub-region. This is attested to by the smooth sprouting of businesses; both local and foreign-owned; while some are establishing it for the first time, others are forced to relocate to peaceful Gambia for reasons connected to instability and other factors, in their previous locations.

Promoting Gambian businesses would be in the best interests of the country and its people. Like President Jammeh said, the benefit of the many trade quotas we have unexploited can only be utilized by our business people. The idea of expatriate tax is also well placed in terms of safeguarding the employment prospects of Gambians. This is what any other government that has the interest of its citizens would do.

But the problems with our businessmen go beyond issues like electricity or land availability. Basically, it seems, we are all responsible for our present predicament. Anywhere you go in the world, locally produced products are logically supposed to be more affordable than imported goods, by virtue of the fact of the cost involved in importing from abroad. This is not to disregard the fact that there are other factors that can influence the cost of producing at home as well. Our problem in this regard is psychological. Simple!

It is worthwhile to note that it is at our best interest that we protect locally produced goods. Whatever is gotten from it is bound to remain here at home. The other point is that having been prepared at home, be they food stuff or any other products, they are items we are always familiar with, which we are more likely to relate to. In the case of food stuffs, rapid increase in mysterious health complications have constantly triggered suspicion, warranting us to question the role of some foods choices we have come to cherish so much at the expense of what we, ourselves, produce.

It is often argued that all our forefathers had known or eaten were what they produced, yet they had had an enviable life expectancy, with healthy living.

The problem, in a more general term, lies entirely in the mindset; the absurd feeling of superiority of imported goods over locally produced ones. This, among various other factors, is responsible to a great extent for the low level of business prospects in the country. If we are to stem this trend, it is imperative that we look into ways of reshaping the mindset of the people. Sensitization will certainly do a great deal of difference.

The fact that members of the manufacture’s association are themselves aware of their problems brings to mind the common adage that knowing about a constraint is a step closer to solving it.

If we, at our level, are to make any appeal, we can only remind Gambians of their moral responsibilities to support local industries. Of course, it is important to note also that our economy being a liberal one; we have a limit as to when to say no to import, and on which goods. But we are at liberty to prevail over the thinking of Gambians.