By Fatou Dahaba
The National Assembly on Tuesday gave a second reading to the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill 2026, a proposed law designed to strengthen consumer rights and promote fairer markets across The Gambia.
The Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, Hon. Mod K. Ceesay, tabled that bill and told lawmakers it is intended to create a comprehensive legal and institutional framework for competition and consumer protection. He said the measure would replace two older statutes — the Competition Act 2007 and the Consumer Protection Act 2014 — with a single, updated law.
According to the minister, the bill would establish the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission as an independent body to administer and enforce the new rules. The commission would promote a competitive economy while safeguarding consumers’ rights and welfare.
Hon. Ceesay said the proposed law would prohibit anti-competitive conduct, including restrictive agreements, abuse of a dominant position and abuse of economic dependence. It would also introduce a clearer system for notifying, reviewing, and regulating mergers that could substantially lessen competition or undermine the public interest.
On the consumer side, the bill seeks to expand protection in several areas that have become more important as markets change. These include the safety and quality of goods and services, false or misleading representations, unfair contract terms, defective goods, distance selling, digital content and product recalls. The draft also sets out avenues for remedies and redress when consumers suffer loss.
Under the proposed law, the commission would be empowered to investigate suspected violations, hold hearings and inquiries, impose penalties and issue orders. The commission’s decisions could be appealed to the High Court. Individuals who suffer loss or damage from prohibited conduct would have the right to seek compensation.
The minister presented the bill as a consolidation of existing rules rather than an entirely new experiment. The Gambia already has a Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. Still, the government has argued that the current legal regime is fragmented and no longer adequate for modern commerce, including digital trade and regional market integration.
Shortly after the presentation, Hon. Kebba Jallow of Jarra Central seconded the motion. He praised the bill’s objectives and described them as laudable. A further motion was then moved and seconded for debate to be adjourned so that the bill could be referred to the Assembly Business Committee for closer examination.
Lawmakers approved that motion and then adopted the motion to read the bill a second time. After the vote, the bill was formally referred to the Assembly Business Committee under the Standing Orders. The committee will decide whether to commit the measure to a select committee or to a committee of the whole Assembly.
The referral marks an important but still early stage in the legislative process. Second reading allows members to consider the bill’s principle; detailed clause-by-clause scrutiny, possible amendments, and a third reading would follow if the measure proceeds.
If enacted, the law would give regulators a broader toolkit against cartels, unfair trading and harmful mergers, while offering consumers clearer rights when goods fail, contracts mislead, or online purchases go wrong. Supporters in the Assembly said the aims were sound. The next test will be whether the committee process produces a statute that is both enforceable and fair to businesses and consumers alike.
