Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Government of The Gambia has announced plans to strengthen the country’s competition and consumer protection framework to address emerging challenges in the digital economy, including the introduction of new legislation and the expansion of regulatory services across the country.
The announcement was made at the opening of the National Seminar on Competition Law and Policy, which brought together government officials, regional regulators, and development partners to discuss fair competition, consumer rights, and market regulation in West Africa.
Speaking on behalf of the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, Mrs. Mariama Fofana said competition remains a critical driver of innovation, investment, and economic growth, noting that both businesses and consumers benefit when markets operate fairly and efficiently.
She disclosed that the government is reviewing the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014 and is preparing a new Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, expected to be introduced in 2026, to address challenges arising from the rapid growth of the digital economy.
“Digital markets are transforming the way businesses operate and consumers engage in commerce,” she said, adding that online platforms, digital payment systems, and e-commerce have created significant opportunities while also raising concerns about market dominance, misleading advertising, misuse of consumer data, and cross-border fraud.
According to her, the proposed reforms are designed to ensure that the country’s legal framework continues to promote innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and maintaining fair competition.
Fofana also highlighted the government’s plans to decentralize the operations of the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC).
She said the commission is working towards establishing regional offices to bring complaint-handling mechanisms, market surveillance, and consumer protection services closer to communities outside the Greater Banjul Area.
In addition, the government revealed that the GCCPC has drafted the country’s first merger regulations and guidelines. The new framework is intended to provide a transparent process for assessing mergers and acquisitions while preventing anti-competitive business practices.
Addressing the seminar, Dr. Simeon Koffi, Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA), stressed the growing importance of regional cooperation as businesses increasingly operate across national borders.
“Competition is not an end in itself,” he said. “It is a means to achieve greater economic efficiency, stimulate innovation, and ultimately protect consumers from practices that distort markets.”
Koffi warned that anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing and market exclusion harm consumers and limit opportunities for smaller businesses to grow.
He noted that ECOWAS has significantly strengthened its regional competition regime in recent years and has already reviewed several cross-border merger transactions since receiving its first merger notification in late 2024.
Koffi also announced plans to establish a digital competition information system that will enable businesses to submit merger notifications electronically while allowing citizens to lodge complaints online.
Mariana Tavares, representing the European Union-funded PaCoSPro program, said the initiative seeks to foster dialogue among regulators, businesses, civil society organizations, and the judiciary while promoting the exchange of international best practices in competition law and consumer protection.
She noted that similar seminars have been held in several West African countries and emphasized the need for stronger regional cooperation as African economies become increasingly interconnected.
Throughout the discussions, participants underscored that effective competition policies go beyond regulating businesses. They argued that robust competition frameworks are essential for encouraging innovation, protecting consumers, and ensuring that economic opportunities are shared more broadly across society.
The three-day seminar is expected to strengthen awareness and enforcement of competition law and consumer protection standards in The Gambia and across the ECOWAS region.
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