Residents in rural Gambia especially in the Niumi districts have complained that the cost of bread has been hiked up to D10 by local bakers. 

The residents’ complaint comes as government warned bakers against increasing cost of bread beyond D7.

Bread is one of the most staple foods in The Gambia and consumed by many Gambians as part of their breakfast and dinner meals. 

Last week, the country was hit by a shortage of bread after bakers went on strike over high cost of flour which triggered the intervention of the Ministry of Trade to reduce cost of flour and warned flour traders to desist from exporting flour outside the country.

The ministry also advised bakers against hiking price on a loaf of bread beyond D7. 

But residents in Niumi said they are still subjected to buying a loaf of bread at D10 unlike the Greater Banjul Area where a loaf of bread stands at D7.

However, bakers in Niumi also complained of high cost of flour saying they don’t feel the reduction of flour announced by the government included them. 

The residents are calling on the Barrow-led administration to intervene and bring a lasting solution to high cost of staple foods and better the living standards of Gambians who voted him for a second term. 

“It’s as if we are in a separate state. How can Kombo be buying bread at a cheaper cost while we here in the rural Gambia buy it at a high cost when we both live in the same country,” Ousman Sillah said.

“Yes, it’s true. Even this morning I bought a loaf of bread for D10 and we have no choice but to buy it,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba