Speaking at a press conference held at Sukuta Traffic Lights yesterday, Baboucarr Mbaye, president of the Association, highlighted the challenges they face in importing cement, attributing the price surge to government measures restricting imports. He stated that the government's priority of local cement factories, which cannot meet national demand, is the root cause.
“What we are facing currently is difficult. You buy your cement and it takes you over 20 days before getting hold of it. The government should allow importation because it’s the only sustainable way,” he stressed.
Mbaye further expressed concerns about the financial losses suffered by cement dealers due to the scarcity. He questioned how Gambians can afford construction materials with the price of a bag of cement now costing D450.
Baba Drammeh echoed similar sentiments, criticizing the government's decision as “unfair and ineffective”, claiming it is both “unjust and illegal”. The association is calling for a free market policy to address the crisis, arguing that the current restrictions are harming both consumers and dealers.
"What the government did is unjust. Today, we are facing skyrocketing prices because of the ban on cement importation. We do not have the local industry capacity to meet demand," Drammeh stated.
He further alleged that the policy is both unjust and illegal.
"We are calling on the government to adopt a free market policy. This decision is not only illegal, but also unfair to both consumers and dealers," he concluded.
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