We
are faced again with the huge challenge of buying rams to observe the
all-important feast of Eid ul-Adha locally known as Tobaski, which is just
about two weeks to come.
While
we are being told that prices of rams or generally livestock at this critical
time would not be too expensive, we are also aware of the fact that some
livestock dealers have already shot up their prices for their livestock and
started to charge something like D12,000 and more for a ram, which is far
beyond the salaries of the majority of workers in this country.
Such
a huge cost for ram will almost prevent the majority of our people from
observing the important feast of Tobaski in the best of ways, which means many
would not afford to sacrifice a ram to the Almighty Allah.
We
are therefore calling on all parties or stakeholders in this deal to find a way
of fighting this challenge by critically looking at the causes for the
skyrocketing prices of rams and other livestock in the country.
Several
reasons, according to reports, have been advanced for this heart-wobbling
situation wherein people would have to be forced to buy ram at cut-throat
prices because they are miles too expensive.
We
cannot afford to do this to ourselves, as we a God-driven people who want to
serve our God and observe the necessary sacrifice according to the ordinances
of our religion Islam.
Factors
like the depreciation of the Dalasi to the CFA, delays at the ferry crossing
point, checkpoint hurdles, and documentation of livestock among other taxes
levied on foreign livestock dealers are deemed to be responsible for the
increasing prices of rams in this country.
We
therefore need to come together to find some solutions to these challenges so
that we are able to breathe a sigh of relief when Tobaski is around us.
So
the government authorities, the customs officers, the immigration officers and
the traffic police need to see reasons to work out a better situation for us,
for the majority of our people to be able to afford a ram when Tobaski sets in.
Although
some reports say this year might be better in terms of prices of ram, which has
been anticipated by many to be in the region of D5,000 and above, we are yet to
see that prices being traded for a good-looking ram.
So
please let’s create an environment conducive for livestock dealers to bring
more animals into the country for Tobaski, which is just around the corner and
could be observed in the first week of September.
“Fair
pricing is Islamic.”
The
Point