The Community Assistant Group (CAG), an organisation concerned with prices of basic commodities in the country, has raised concern over the weight of bread following the increase in price of a locally prepared bread called tapa lapa.

In an interview with the Daily Observer, Buba Sarr, chairman of  CAG, questioned the rationale behind the increase in the price of the bread when the price of a bag of flour remains unchanged. According to Mr Sarr, their findings revealed that within the  Kombo North and Kombo Central, the same bread that weighs 6 grams and costs D4.00, costs D6.00 in the Greater Banjul Area.

‘This is unfair,” the CAG chairman protested, and added, “it is also interesting to note that businessmen buy flour in Banjul, pay for their tranportation and still go on to sell tapa lapa at a cheaper rate than in the Greater Banjul Area. What is happening?”
Mr Sarr told this reporter that in their efforts to help control the situation, they have summoned all stakeholders, ranging from bakery owners, bakers and their suppliers for a meeting, on the 3rd of August, 2008.

 This meeting, he said, is meant to discuss the issue of a standard bread, among others. He however expressed dismay at the activities of some businessmen dealing in foodstuff such as rice, sugar, flour, chicken, and the like, who impose preconditions on petty traders to buy some food items like chocolate, biscuits, and eggs, before selling them the basic items.