By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), in collaboration with key stakeholders, validated a groundbreaking study on Wednesday, April 9, examining the state of competition and consumer welfare in the digital market. The study, conducted by the GCCPC and supported by the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA), sheds light on the challenges and opportunities within The Gambia’s emerging digital economy, focusing on e-commerce and digital financial platforms.
The validated report aims to deepen understanding of the digital market while identifying critical competition and consumer protection issues at local and regional levels. It also highlights laws, policies, and regulations that hinder fair competition and consumer welfare in these sectors.
GCCPC Board Chairperson Yassin Senghore described the validation as a pivotal moment in the commission’s mission to cultivate a competitive and consumer-friendly digital economy. She pointed to the study’s findings, which revealed regulatory barriers to market entry, refusal to deal, lack of interoperability, misleading advertisements, and personal data privacy concerns. Additionally, inadequate regulatory frameworks and infrastructure were flagged as significant impediments to the digital market’s growth.
“The study underscores the urgent need for collaboration among stakeholders to address these challenges,” Senghore said. “We must unite with a shared vision to enhance competition and consumer welfare in the digital market.”
Jerreh Sanyang, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, emphasized the digital market’s role in boosting local and cross-border trade by streamlining transactions, cutting costs, and improving logistics. He drew attention to pressing issues outlined in the study, including restrictions on cross-border remittances within ECOWAS, vertical integration, interoperability gaps, data security risks, low digital literacy, and infrastructural deficiencies.
“These findings expose a range of obstacles but also offer valuable insights into how we can strengthen the digital market value chain together,” Sanyang noted. He added that the Ministry, in partnership with the GCCPC and with support from the Commonwealth, is working with a consultant to revise the Competition and Consumer Protection Acts to address digital market dynamics better.
Ebrima Tambajang, representing the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority, underscored the study’s broader goal of fostering a competitive, consumer-oriented digital market to drive economic growth and regional integration across West Africa. “This validation session marks a critical step in our joint efforts to promote fair competition and economic development in the ECOWAS region,” he said.
GCCPC Executive Secretary Basirou Njie hailed the validation as a platform for open dialogue, enabling stakeholders to refine their strategies for tackling digital market challenges. “This collaborative effort will pave the way for fair practices, stronger consumer protections, and a thriving digital economy that benefits all Gambians,” Njie stated.
Among the study’s key recommendations are calls for ERCA to investigate alleged restrictions on cross-border remittances by some ECOWAS member states to boost digital trade. The report also urges an overhaul of The Gambia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Acts, noting that while effective in traditional markets, the current framework lacks the tools to regulate the digital economy adequately. Proposed amendments would introduce tailored provisions and enforcement mechanisms to address the sector’s unique challenges.
The validation event reflects a collective commitment to harnessing the potential of The Gambia’s digital market while ensuring it remains fair, competitive, and consumer-focused.
