Held at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), the event attracted councilors and alkalolu from the municipality and was also designed to hone their skills to be able to understand pertinent issues relating to consumer protection regulations.
At the event, Binta Janneh Jallow, Deputy Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Council, emphasised the importance of empowering local leaders with knowledge about consumer protection.
She reminded that Councilors and Market Masters serve as the first point of contact for communities, making their role critical in addressing consumer complaints effectively.
“Equipping them with the right knowledge will enable them to handle complaints and guide residents appropriately,” she stated.
She described the session as the second in a series of capacity building targeting staff of KMC, urging participants to take full advantage of the opportunity.
She noted that KMC has 19 markets, and spreading awareness at the grassroots level would be beneficial, further encouraging participants to be ready to share the knowledge gained and collaborate with the commission when necessary.
Fabakary Drammeh, Consumer Protection Manager at GCCPC, underscored the significance of the commission’s mandate, particularly in enforcing the Competition Act of 2007.
He reminded that Councilors, Market Masters and Alkalolu play a crucial role as intermediaries between the public and the authorities.
“When people approach them with complaints, they should know the right steps to take. This training will equip them with that understanding,” he said.
Drammeh further suggested that KMC appoint a focal person to liaise with GCCPC on consumer protection issues.
Similarly, Bassirou Njie, executive Secretary of GCCPC, emphasised that while the commission cannot directly reach every consumer, Councilors and Market Masters, being present at the grassroots level, can bridge the gap.
To that end, he noted that the training would help them identify consumer protection issues and understand the mechanisms in place to address them.
Njie also pointed out that similar training sessions had been conducted in other regions to ensure that consumer rights are upheld nationwide.
“We are funded by taxpayers’ money to serve the people, and Gambians should hold us accountable,” he added, urging public participation in consumer protection efforts.
The initiative reflects GCCPC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening consumer rights and fostering fair competition in The Gambia.
