By: Modou Touray
Customers purchasing a ram for the Muslim holy feast of Eid al-Adha have expressed to the New Global Media that the cost of rams exceed their salaries. A recent tour of selling points in the Greater Banjul Area revealed that the current prices of rams on display are unaffordable for low-income earners.
“I am waiting to receive the government one by six so that I can afford to buy a ram. With this poor salary, I will have to prioritize my spending,” said Lamin Sanneh, a government driver.
In Abuko, our reporter found a large number of buyers, most of whom are salary earners. Salifu Mbye, who works for a private company, stressed that the government should regulate ram prices, stating that businessmen set prices arbitrarily. “This is not sustainable. Every Tobaski period, people face a lot of challenges in buying rams.”
In Serrekunda and Kanifing, our reporter visited selling points with hundreds of rams, but noted that prices ranged from seven thousand dalasi to twenty-five thousand dalasi (D7,000-D25,000).
“I can afford D6,000, but I am not able to buy a ram for that amount right now. I will have to wait until a few days before the feast and buy then, maybe it will be cheaper,” said Fye Jobe, a police officer.
Additionally, this media outlet spoke to some ram owners who explained that they travel to the interior of the country and beyond to purchase and transport their rams.
“It cannot be that cheap because our expenditure is too much,” noted Bailo Jallow.
