The Cement Importers and Agents Association of The Gambia has appealed to the Gambian leader Adama Barrow to reconsider his government’s 180% cement tariffs, indicating that its members have been struggling to recover from the devastating impact of the tariffs on their businesses.
The association also clarified that importing cement from Senegal could not be blamed for the strength of the CFA against the dalasi, contrary to claims in some official circles that the activities of importers of bagged cement from Senegal had been putting pressure on the CFA.
At the time of the introduction of the 180% cement levy in February of last year, 5000 CFA was sold at D450. However, one year and four months down the line, 5000 CFA is now sold at D630.
“This is a clear indication that importing bagged cement from Senegal has nothing to do with the dalasi’s plummeting value against the CFA,” the association said.
The association felt that it had been unfairly treated by some officials, who tried to link the plummeting value of the dalasi, to the activities of importers of bagged cement from Senegal.
“When you talk about importing goods, especially essentials like sugar, oil and rice, the common medium of exchange is either dollar or euros. So when we talk about pressure on convertible currencies for our imports, we think the pressure is more on the dollar and euro than the CFA,” the association said.
The association appealed to the President to consider the impact of his government’s 180% cement tariffs.
“We appeal to the President to use his good office and ensure the removal of the cement tariffs, and we are still committed to sit around the table with authorities to discuss the issue,” the association stated.
The Gambia government introduced the cement tariff in February of last year and this policy directive has been nothing, but devastating. It destroyed livelihoods and caused disruptions across many sectors of the economy.
Currently, a bag of cement is being sold at D500 in some parts of the country.
Jah Oil re-bagging factory said it has been forced to increase the wholesale price of its cement due to external shocks.
The government insists that its cement levy is aimed at protecting local cement factories such as Jah Oil, Salam and Gacem, all of which import powder cement for re-bagging.
Critics of the government’s tariff policy said it cannot protect any local cement factory from importers of bagged cement because “they are all importers”.
Meanwhile, UDP leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe told JollofNews last month that ” nobody should be allowed to sell cement at D500″.
Cement shortages have also become the order of the day.
