By Makutu Manneh
Mamodou Bah, Director General of the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), has pledged to resign if any expired products are discovered in Serrekunda, rejecting claims that the area remains a hub for unsafe goods.
Bah dismissed long-standing perceptions of the so-called “Expire Junction,” stressing that the situation has changed significantly due to tighter monitoring and enforcement.
“If you see any expiring products in Serekunda, I will resign because this expired junction is a brand,” Bah declared.
According to him, the FSQA’s intensified oversight has forced importers and distributors to be more cautious. He explained that some traders bring in large quantities of goods and, as expiration dates approach, attempt to sell them at reduced prices.
“If it has expired, we will find them and make sure they pay for the destruction of the entire commodity,” Bah emphasized.
On the issue of street food vending, Bah acknowledged it remains a public health challenge across Africa but said The Gambia has made notable strides. He noted that most street food vendors are now more organized, thanks to FSQA’s ongoing registration and monitoring efforts.
“We have a program for street food vendors, and most of them are organized in a way. We are trying to register all of them,” he said.