May 17, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (BO)
Residents in Bo and beyond are bitterly grumbling about what they described as a wicked act of some traders in the district, who have deliberately refused to reduce the price of food stuff that were skyrocketed during Ramadan season.
Speaking to this medium in a tearful mood at the Bo Central Market over the weekend, Isatu Brima said that before the Ramadan the cost of locally grown rice was one thousand five hundred but the price got hiked during the Ramadan to two thousand Leones.
According to her, she is a single parent with four children and they eat three cups of rice every day and that is a huge burden on her; to get the money is one thing and for it to serve the rest of the family is another burning issue.
“The traders should know that Ramadan is over and they should understand that not all the hands are equal. But I blame the government including the traders Union who are not taking drastic action against the unscrupulous traders who are in the habit of increasing prices at the detriment of the poor masses”, Isata Brima said.
She however called on the government to speedily intervene to salvage the situation and ensure that the price of goods that increased during the Ramadam is reduced so that the low income earners will afford a meal for their survival.
Reacting to the allegation, the Regional Chairman of the Sierra Leone Traders Union, David Moses said that the increase in the price of goods and services on occasions like Ramadan or Christmas is normal because it happen even before and during occasions like that.
He however said that his executive always discourage traders to desist from hiking prices at all times.
A Traders Magito John said that the prices of food stuffs that they increased during the Ramdam are very expensive and the transportation cost is high to bring the food stuffs including the home grown rice.
‘’ If we don’t increase price we will not make profit, ’she said