For this week’s Women’s Weekly  edition, the columnist went around the Serrekunda market and sought the opinion of business woman,  housewives and consumers on the escalating food prices especially in the month of Ramadan.

Although there were mixed views, the reaction was unanimous on the necessity to contain the continuous fluctuations of prices. Some of the interviewees seized the opportunity to thank President Yahya Jammeh for issuing a strong ultimatum on the reduction of the prices of meat.

Marie Kates (Consumer)
It is unacceptable that the prices of basic commodities continue to rise. Can you imagine, 3 big pepper for 5 dalasis. I think the reason behind this inflation of prices is that some unscrupulous people want to have more profit than they are supposed to have. Because of that, life is getting harder and harder. I am appealing to the businessmen and business woman.

Aji Ida Secka, Manageress of Serekunda Shopping Mall.
In Serekunda Shopping Mall, the price of basic food commodities are cheaper than the in main market. In our view, the only way to attract more customers is to reduce the prices of commodities. Foodstuffs are very expensive and I agree with the President’s initiative for meat sellers to reduce their prices because not everybody can afford 85 or 90 dalasis to buy meat. If your fish money is 50 dalasis, then God knows when you will eat meat.

Fatou Trawalley (Consumer)
In this Holy Month of Ramadan, they should at least reduce the cost of meat, fish, rice, etc, so that things will be easy for us, the women. But paradoxically, everything is expensive. Some of us our husbands are poor and things are getting more difficult everyday. Imagine if you are given 50 dalasis; you will roam all over the market and will not know what to buy because of the soaring food prices. For me, the reason why everything is expensive lies on fact that  they bought the items very expensively.  

Isatou Sanneh (Consumer)
This month is a blessed month, but the market is hard and the prices of basic food commodities continue to rise. As a Muslim, I am appealing to the business men to reduce their prices and have mercy on us. We are not equal, some are rich and others are poor. Let them make their prices reasonable for the interest of all Gambians and non-Gambians. The president should do the same for other things as he did for the price of meat.

Mamafing Manjang (Businesswoman)
We are trying to make things reasonable but it is not our fault, because we get our items expensively. As a businesswoman, I believe if things are reduced, we will surely make more sales and profit.  

Majula Ceesay (Businesswoman)
I am a groundnut seller and one bag of groundnut is D750. I am even wondering if I will have some profit. This groundnut is grown in this country, why should it be expensive? I am calling on the President to creat a price control mechanism so as to regulate the sector. .

Binta Sanyang (Businesswoman)
I am appealing to the government to help us with the wholesalers, to reduce their prices so that we, the retailers, can also sell our items at reasonable prices. Before, my husband use to give me D150 for my fish money. But due to market fluctuations, I spend an additional D50 or more. We are sitting here in order to make ends meet.I must admit I am very happy with the president as he has now controlled the price of meat. I am appealing to him to do the same thing with other commodities. We are praying for the president to live long and continue being our president so that peace will continue to prevail in the country.