Trade Minister Says Gambia Will Not Reintroduce Price Controls, Favors Market Regulation Instead

By Makutu Manneh

The Gambian government has no plans to reintroduce price controls, opting instead to strengthen market regulation and competition as a way to keep prices in check, Trade Minister Mod K. Ceesay said at a recent ministerial town hall meeting.

Mr. Ceesay, the minister of trade, industry, regional integration, and employment, said the government’s priority is to regulate how markets operate rather than dictate the prices of goods.

“As far as we are concerned, there shouldn’t be price control; what we are suggesting is market control. Let’s go to the market and regulate it but not the price,” he said.

He said effective market oversight should focus on ensuring that goods meet required standards, are accurately measured, move through proper regulatory processes, remain adequately supplied, and are not subject to anti-competitive practices such as collusion among traders.

According to the minister, a well-regulated market that encourages fair competition naturally limits the need for government intervention in pricing.

“We have seen the damage done by price control here before in the ’80s, and I don’t think it is in anybody’s interest to introduce price control. Let the market flow for competition,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay said regulatory agencies, including the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, should play a more active role in monitoring markets, safeguarding competition, and ensuring the quality of goods and services available to consumers.

He reiterated that the government is not considering price controls, arguing that past experience showed such measures to be counterproductive and that fostering competition remains the preferred approach to protecting consumers.