Trade Minister Rules Out Price Controls, Defends Gambia’s Free-Market Stance

By Fatou Sillah

The government of The Gambia has no intention of imposing controls on food prices and will continue to let market forces set the cost of essential goods, the country’s trade minister told the National Assembly this week, even as lawmakers pressed him over the rising cost of living.

The minister, Mod K. Ceesay, who oversees the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, said the country remains committed to a liberalized market economy and did not indicate that the administration was reconsidering that approach.

His remarks came in response to a question from the National Assembly member for Janjanbureh, who asked what immediate steps the government was taking to stabilize food prices and shield low-income households from the rising cost of living.

Mr. Ceesay said the government does not interfere in the pricing of essential commodities, though he insisted officials remained focused on keeping supplies steady and avoiding disruptions to the market.

“At this stage, there is nothing that informs us to reverse our policy position at the moment, moving from a liberal arrangement into a controlled environment,” he told lawmakers.

While the ministry does not set prices, Mr. Ceesay said it tracks the availability, stock levels, and price movements of essential goods on an ongoing basis. He added that his office works closely with importers, distributors, and other stakeholders to head off shortages and keep goods flowing into the country.

“To mitigate the impact of rising global commodity prices and supply chain disruptions, the ministry facilitates and monitors the timely importation of essential goods and encourages the bulk importation of these commodities by importers,” he said.

The minister said his ministry also coordinates with the Gambia Ports Authority and other agencies to prioritize the clearance of vessels carrying essential commodities, an effort he said was intended to reduce costs that might otherwise be passed on to consumers.

Beyond those short-term measures, Mr. Ceesay argued that the lasting answer to the country’s food price pressures lies in reducing its reliance on imported food through expanded local production and greater private investment in agriculture.

Pressed further during a round of supplementary questions, the Janjanbureh lawmaker asked whether the ministry was weighing legislation that would give the government broader authority to control prices and protect ordinary citizens from the rising cost of living.

Mr. Ceesay said the government had no plans to abandon its current approach. The liberal market system, he said, remains intact but is reinforced by regulatory tools meant to monitor market conditions and guard against unfair practices.

“We are implementing a liberal market but supported by regulated instruments to continue to monitor the market and make sure that the right environment is what is at play in determining prices and also the quality of goods,” he said.