The Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has declared that The Gambia enjoys some of the lowest food prices in the West African sub-region, crediting government subsidies and targeted interventions for cushioning households against global inflation.
Speaking on West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay said subsidies on electricity, fuel, and agriculture have helped stabilize commodity prices despite international economic pressures. He dismissed claims of recent price hikes, noting that staple goods have remained relatively stable.
According to him, the price of a bag of rice has dropped from D2,200–D2,300 a year ago to D1,600–D1,700 today, while onions and potatoes are selling between D600 and D700. “What we do as a government is undertake targeted interventions to mitigate the impact. That is why today, when you buy D100 worth of cashpower, you get more kilowatts because the government has subsidised it. If you buy fuel, every litre has a government subsidy. In agriculture, we realised that about 75 percent of Gambians depend on subsistence farming. That is why we provide free seeds, subsidised fertilisers and other farming inputs. We also subsidise transport for university students travelling to Faraba. All these targeted subsidies are intended to help Gambians save money. Today, The Gambia has one of the cheapest food baskets in the sub-region,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay acknowledged, however, that the rising cost of living remains a global challenge, stressing that The Gambia’s heavy reliance on imports limits the government’s ability to shield citizens from international price shocks. “There is no country in the world today that is not facing cost of living challenges. As a government, we have taken measures to mitigate the impact, but we have no control over global inflation because we import almost everything we need. If the price of rice increases in India or Pakistan, or shipping costs rise because of global
shocks, those increases are reflected in the prices of imported goods here. Importers cannot continue bringing in goods at a loss,” he explained.
The minister’s remarks underscore the delicate balance between domestic policy interventions and global market realities, as The Gambia continues to navigate the challenges of inflation while striving to maintain affordable food prices for its citizens.
