By: Isatou Sarr
Vendors at Serekunda Market have called on the government to urgently stabilise the Dalasi, saying the constant rise of the CFA franc is crippling their small businesses and daily survival.
Speaking to The Voice, several traders shared how the falling Dalasi and the strong CFA which they rely on to import goods from Senegal is making basic items unaffordable for ordinary Gambians.
“I have been selling shoes for years, but now I can’t finish selling a single batch in a month,” said Ibra, a long-time shoe seller at Serekunda Market. “Every month, I go to Senegal to buy shoes to resell here. Before, my shoes would finish within weeks now they stay for months because the prices have gone up so much.”
A few months ago, Ibra said, a pair of shoes cost D100 to D200. Now, the same shoes cost at least D50 or D100 more. “I have five children. They all go to school. I pay school fees, rent, water, cash power everything has gone up. How am I supposed to feed my family if I can’t sell my shoes?” he asked.
Ibra urged the government to act fast and protect ordinary citizens who depend on cross-border trade with Senegal. “Our parents and grandparents are Gambian. We are citizens. Our leaders should help us because we put them in those positions,” he said.
Another vendor, Murr Chem, who sells school bags, shoes, and veils, said he is struggling to keep his business afloat. He explained that he usually travels to Senegal every two months to buy stock. However, due to the high CFA rates, he has not restocked for three months because his old stock is still unsold.
“Even if I add just D50 to the price to cover costs, people complain it’s too expensive,” he said. “Last time, a lady insulted me and said my prices are haram. But what can we do? If I travel to Senegal, I pay transport, customs fees everything costs more now.”
Murr said customers must understand that vendors cannot keep prices the same when the Dalasi keeps dropping. “Even the government’s family members are here suffering with us,” he said. “They should help make things better because we are all one family in this small Gambia.”
Many vendors at Serekunda Market believe that if the government does not act soon to address the Dalasi’s weakness and the high CFA rates, more small businesses will collapse leaving families with fewer ways to earn a living.
