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Trade Ministry warns retailers

Mar 28, 2023, 11:45 AM

Press release

The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment wishes to inform the general public that through its continuous monitoring and engagements with relevant stakeholders on the essential food commodities with a view of ensuring availability and affordability, has observed that the stock levels for most of the essential food commodities being monitored are adequate to cover the month of Ramadan.

Similarly, the Ministry has also observed that wholesale prices of most of the essential commodities have generally been stable. However, The Ministry has observed with concern the increasing retail prices of essential commodities in the markets in the early days of the month of Ramadan. The Ministry is hereby warning the business community, particularly the retailers, to cease from taking advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to hike prices of essential commodities. This goes against the spirit of the holy month of Ramadan and free market principles.

The Ministry calls on the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to closely monitor the market and ensure that there is effective competition and that businesses do not take advantage of the Ramadan to exploit consumers. The Ministry will work closely with the Gambia Competition Commission in monitoring the markets and any businesses found wanting will face the full brunt of the law.”

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