By Fatou Dahaba
In the crowded lanes of Sabiji market in Latri Kunda, Ebrima Tamba begins each day with the same pressing concern: stretching his limited income to provide meals for his family of seven. As a father of five school-going children, Tamba has watched his daily food budget rise sharply.
“I used to allocate 300 dalasis as house allowance for food, but now it’s 500 dalasis daily,” he told our reporter. “I also give each child 25 dalasis for lunch on school days. The cost of living is becoming unbearable, and if this continues, it will seriously harm the people.”
Across the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region, similar complaints echo through markets such as Wellingara, Latri Kunda (Sabiji), and Old Yundum. Residents and traders alike express frustration over the persistent climb in prices of essential staples—sugar, onions, cooking oil, vegetables, and other basics—that has left many households struggling to cope.
The Alkamba Times spoke with citizens in mid-January 2025 (with concerns persisting into early 2026 amid ongoing economic pressures), who described the situation as overwhelming, particularly as the holy month of Ramadan—expected to begin around February 18, 2026—approached. During Ramadan, increased demand for food items for iftar and suhoor traditionally drives prices even higher, amplifying fears of deepened hardship without intervention.
Mariama Keita, a housewife from Ebo Town, highlighted the daily strain: “I spend 300 dalasis on vegetables alone each day, and that’s painful for those of us who must put food on the table.” She noted that onions, which cost less than 600 dalasis per bag a month earlier, have surged to around 1,000 dalasis.
In Old Yundum, another resident, Mariama Camara, shared her plight while directly appealing to leadership. “I spend 400 dalasis daily on food for myself, my husband, and our six children—it’s so difficult,” she said. “I am calling on President Adama Barrow to reduce food prices. When a leader sees something affecting citizens, they should take action. People are suffering.”
Recent economic data shows that food inflation in The Gambia is moderating but remains elevated. Food inflation stood at around 7 percent in late 2025, down from higher levels in prior years. Yet, staple prices continue to burden households in an import-reliant economy exposed to global fluctuations. While some official statements have pointed to relatively stable or competitive regional prices for certain commodities, everyday Gambians report that essentials feel increasingly out of reach.
Both Tamba and other interviewees urged the Barrow administration to act decisively to ease the crisis through targeted measures, such as subsidies or import policies, to alleviate the mounting pressure on families.
As the fasting month looms, many fear that without urgent steps to curb food costs, the spiritual observance could be overshadowed by economic strain for countless Gambian households.
