The deplorable sanitation conditions observed at some of the country’s major markets should concern every Gambian. The recent inspection tour by the Ministers of Environment and Gender, Women and Children’s Welfare has once again exposed a problem that can no longer be treated as a seasonal inconvenience or addressed through temporary clean-up exercises.
Markets are central to daily life. They are where thousands of people earn their livelihoods and where a large proportion of the food consumed by Gambians is bought and sold. Allowing accumulated waste, foul odours and filthy surroundings to persist in such environments creates obvious risks to public health and undermines the dignity of both traders and consumers.
The complaints from vendors also deserve serious consideration. If traders are regularly paying daily duties, rates and other fees to local councils, they have every right to demand basic services in return. Revenue collection must go hand in hand with accountability and service delivery. Councils cannot continuously collect money from market users while failing to ensure adequate waste management.
At the same time, responsibility should not rest entirely with councils. Market vendors and consumers also have a duty to keep their surroundings clean and use designated waste-disposal facilities. Effective sanitation requires cooperation among councils, market authorities, vendors, businesses and the public.
The government’s decision to engage local councils and develop a practical plan is welcome. However, the real test will be implementation. Authorities should establish clear responsibilities, reliable waste-collection schedules, adequate disposal facilities and mechanisms for monitoring compliance.
The sanitation crisis in our markets has persisted for too long. It should not take a ministerial inspection or political season to compel action.
The government and local councils must move beyond emergency clean-ups and implement sustainable waste-management systems. Clean markets are not a luxury; they are essential to public health, economic dignity and a better Gambia.
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