Ahmed Mai Fatty, leader of Gambia Moral Congress, has called for protection of Gambian businesses in order for them to lead the country’s economic recovery.

“It is time to fully render the private sector the real engine of our economy, and under current exigencies, also reduce public expenditure through rigorous fiscal prudence.

“It makes sense to me for the government to deliberately accord greater preference to Gambian businesses through targeted policy intervention, legislation, taxation, etc,” he said.

“My view is that trade policy should be injected with sensible economic patriotism, and the State should expeditiously but creatively address the critical needs of ‘the Gambian’ private sector.

“We must protect Gambian businesses more, and enable them lead the economic recovery drive, and the long-term goal of industrialisation,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba