Sierra Leone News: Ramadan shoppers bewildered

Sports

Many shoppers expect prices of basic commodities to drop during the holy month of Ramadan. However, these expectations are short-lived for faithful Ramadan shoppers. The prices of basic food stuffs, which are crucial for the breaking of the Muslim fast in the evening: sugar, oil, fish, meat, mayonnaise, breads, fruits and vegetables, were shockingly high. A meat seller, Pa Amadu Bah, said, “During the month of Ramadan the price of animals have skyrocketed as well as the cost of transportation. People think that during this period is when they should make their money so they do not consider the middle and low-income earners. They set prices that will suit their economic interests.” He said, “We, as sellers, need to recover our cost that’s why we sell a Kilo of beef and bone for Le13,000 while steak is Le15,000.” The Sun vegetable oil is Le75,000 per gallon, while the tropical brand of cooking oil costs Le 95,000. A bottle of mayonnaise is Le30,000; Irish potatoes cost Le10,000 while sweet potatoes, which are home grown, are Le5,000 and Le10,000 for packs. The cost of onions ranges from Le5,000 to Le7,000. A cup of pepper is Le3,000 to Le5,000 depending on the grade and quality. A ball of cabbage cost Le15,000, while carrot packages ranges from Le20,000 to Le25,000. Watermelons cost Le25,000 while mangoes and grapes are Le3,000 and Le35,000 respectively. Fatmata Kamara, a shopper along Sani Abacha Street, said the prices of goods keeps fluctuating, which poses a challenge for them. “When you budget for a certain commodity the next time you come to the market, the price has changed,” she said. “Sometimes our husbands do not trust what we say causing domestic conflicts. We urge the Ministry of the Trade to try and enforce price control policies so that we can have a steady price for basic commodities of food stuffs.” Kaday Sesay, a vegetable seller, said the prices of fresh vegetables are expensive because the producers are increasing their lot prices due to a lack of availability of water, especially in the greater Freetown axis. It is believed that for the Ramadan to be enjoyable the prices of basic food commodities should be reduced for the common benefit of all.

Fill the forms below to register

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.