By: Ilyasa Baa
As the holy month of Ramadan is finally here, there have been speculations that the prices of sugar and mill flour and other food commodities will be lifted by profiteers to inflict suffering on the Muslim community who are observing the fasting period.
The Director of Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Emmanuel Konjoh has allayed the fears of people that there will be no scarcity of commodities during Ramadan, adding that rice, sugar, flour mill and other commodities are readily available in stock as the government was willing to lose over eighteen million new Leones to duty waivers for these commodities so that Sierra Leoneans would not starve.
He stressed that the Ministry has recruited more Trade Monitors to get those who are taking advantage and selling at higher prices than required. ‘Profiteering and hoarding are crimes business people can be charged for before a court of law”, said Konjoh, noting that some Sierra Leoneans are wicked to themselves which is why they lift the prices, especially during Ramadan.
He said the Ministry is going to be very proactive in ensuring that there is price control and that traders don’t exploit those that buy from them but sell at a normal price. He called on Sierra Leoneans to diversify their food intake not relying heavily on just rice and bread as staple foodstuffs.
The government had introduced zero duty policy for essential commodities such as rice, sugar and flour to reach the people of Sierra Leone at a time the world is experiencing economic constraints due to Covid 19 pandemic and the Ukraine – Russia war.
Consumers have called on the Ministry to monitor how bread seller sell their bread to members of the public, especially at junctions at night.