Africa-Press – Gambia. National Assembly Member for Upper Saloum, Alhagie Mbowe, on Monday told lawmakers that a fair and honest assessment of the country’s economic situation shows that the prices of basic commodities are beginning to decline.
Contributing to the debate on the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), Mbowe said while many Gambians continue to express concern over the cost of living, current figures and market trends point to a reduction in prices, particularly for essential goods.
Mbowe says “if we speak the truth, the price of commodities like rice, for example, oil, it has gone down drastically,” linking this development to a steady drop in inflation.
Referring to figures contained in the President’s address, he noted that inflation, which stood at 17.3 percent in 2023, dropped to 10.2 percent and further declined to 6.6 percent by December 2025.
He told the Assembly that the earlier surge in prices was not unique to The Gambia, but part of a wider global trend, where many countries experienced double-digit inflation.
Mbowe says “across the globe” the cost of food and essential commodities had risen sharply, adding that those who travel frequently would observe similar trends in other countries.
However, he maintained that in The Gambia, prices are now beginning to ease.
He attributed this shift to deliberate government policies, particularly efforts to promote local production and reduce dependence on imports.
“When we promote local industries, and we try to produce on our own — beef, meat, chicken, eggs — the prices ought to go down, and that’s exactly what is happening in this country,” Mbowe said.
He added that the volume of imported poultry products has reduced, which he said reflects increased local production driven by policies from key sectors such as agriculture and trade.
“These things are policies that don’t come by accident. It must be deliberate,” he said.
Mbowe limited his intervention to the economy, urging colleagues to assess the country’s performance within broader regional and global contexts in order to have a clearer understanding of the situation.
The debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address continues at the National Assembly, with members expected to further scrutinise the government’s record across various sectors.
