Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The Government of The Gambia has announced that it will not approve the proposed increase in bread prices from D10 to D15, following a comprehensive cost analysis that failed to justify the hike.

In a press release issued by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MOTIE), authorities reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that bread, a key staple food, remains accessible and affordable for the population.

The statement comes in response to a price increase proposal made by the Gambia Bakers’ Union (GBU) in March 2025, which cited rising production costs as the main reason.

Following the announcement by the Bakers’ Union, the ministry engaged the GBU to understand the basis of the proposal.

In an effort to ensure transparency and consumer protection, MOTIE, in collaboration with the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC) and the Consumer Consortium, initiated a series of consultations with the union. As a result of these discussions, a joint decision was made to place the proposed increase on hold while a detailed cost analysis was conducted.

A special task force comprising MOTIE, the GCCPC, and the GBU was established to assess the actual input costs involved in bread production. The team collected data from 48 bakeries across the country—both “Senfour” and “Tapala” types—to gain a broad understanding of the production cost structure.

After the analysis was completed, the findings were presented to MOTIE’s senior management and the executive members of the Bakers’ Union on May 7, 2025. According to the ministry, the data revealed that the suggested D5 increment per loaf lacked empirical justification.

“The presented data clearly revealed that the proposed increase in the price of bread by the Bakers’ Union could not be empirically supported,” the statement emphasized.

The ministry assured the public that it would continue to monitor the production, distribution, and pricing of bread nationwide to ensure that the commodity remains within the financial reach of ordinary Gambians.