We’ve heard enough lofty talk about developing The Gambia. But within minutes, reality sinks in, and I find myself asking: Are we truly serious about what we preach?

Yesterday left me deeply saddened and concerned. Once again, we’ve proven that as a nation, we are not serious.

When the Bakers’ Union threatened to raise the price of bread, the government, through the Ministry of Trade, intervened. But in the end, they appeared powerless. The price jumped from D10 to D12.

As usual, the authorities tried to justify the hike with misleading claims. In a statement, they assured the public that the weight of a loaf would be increased. But that so-called adjustment barely lasted a few days after July 1, the day when two dalasis were unceremoniously added to the price.

Today, when I walked into a shop to buy bread, I was shocked, not just by the poor quality of the loaf, but by how much its size had shrunk. This is not just unfair. It’s insulting.

Let’s call it what it is: we’re being robbed of two dalasis on every loaf of bread. And bread is only one issue among many others affecting ordinary Gambians.

This situation reflects a deeper failure. Our authorities owe us more than empty promises. They owe us accountability, transparency, and above all, an apology. For failing us. For taking us for granted. For betraying their oath. And for allowing their fellow citizens to suffer.

By Adama Makasuba