In yesteryears there were trade inspectors parading Freetown and beyond to check for expired goods and prices. Whether these inspectors have now been replaced with the Sierra Leone Standard Bureau SLSB in attendance with the consumers’ associations awaits an answer.
The SLSB is here and goods of low quality are in the markets waiting for exchange. Prices have been skyrocketed for basic commodities in the market, and nobody is asking why?
We have the Ministry of Trade and Industry charged with the responsibility of checking regular happenings in the market. The ministry largely focuses its attention on foreign investors and international part of the trade, with little no focus on what is happening in our local markets.
Forum Newspaper believes that the Ministry of Trade and Industry was setup to assist both local and international trade for general wellbeing of all Sierra Leoneans.
With little or no supervision from the line ministry in question traders across the country are always taking advantage of the absence of monitors to increase prices of basic commodities.
The average household find it difficult to cope with the trend of this new development. The Ministry of Trade Industry needs to step up in its regulatory role and arrest the issue to save the nation from starvation and approaching disaster. Disasters for almost everything Sierra Leoneans need to cope with life.
The people need patriotic price inspectors that can withstand the trials of corruption. The Ministry of Trade must come back with trade inspectors not only to look for expired products but to monitor the prices of our basic commodities. Commodities as locally produced goods.
Trade monitors should be well trained, given price list for essential commodities and must not compromise. You cannot give them prosecutorial powers to prosecute offenders, but can be given the power to arrest goods, sell them at the required prices. Traders take advantage when they are not supervised and regulated by the appropriate authority.
Fish was a common commodity for every household before now. Today it is difficult for an average family to buy the quantity of fish required to make a meal as if the Minister of Trade is not sensitive to the plight of the people. The price is not encouraging, as its scarcity and price have become a big concern in the market. The fish are locally produced, and little and no reason to escalate their price. The government needs to pay attention to save the nation from the exploitation.
Groundnut of course is now imported from the Republic of Mali, while the ones produced in the country cannot feed the population. What does this mean? This shows that we are not utilizing the fields to produced more groundnut, and that we need to intensify our agricultural productivity, encouraging our locals to produce more of that commodity for our local consumption. Famers are still subsistence; it is the concern of the government to make them more commercial, providing the basics and encouragement to produce more.
If our independence is meaningful, we must be able to produce our local commodities, feed ourselves and many more as a people on our own. You cannot attain independence when you cannot provide your basic needs for yourself. The call for independence means, the ability to produce and feed your-self. If the price of your basic commodities were to be determined by external forces, then it is unfortunate to say you are enjoying your independence. If Mali were to engross in war or other calamity, it means scarcity of groundnut to Sierra Leone with increase in price of that commodity. This will grossly affect the consumption, marketing and distribution of the essential commodity.
The essence of forming all those ministries is to assist the government in the administration of the country. Every ministry is equally important to the growth and development of the nation. The Ministry of Trade is important mostly on domestic and external trade on the advantages of the citizenry.
Forum Newspaper therefore calls on the line ministry to ensure that Sierra Leoneans are fully protected against exploitation.
Markets are left unsupervised except to collect dues from the city councils. The market is a common place to facilitate exchange of goods and services. It is important for the relevant authorities to pay more attention towards promoting the name of the Ministry Trade and Industry.
Living them without the adequate supervision is letting them to do their will. The ministries should create institutional linkages to augment each other both in external and internal matters for the goodness of the common man.
This medium urge the line ministry to visit the markets, take time to know the prices of commodities and make recommendations. You cannot sit in your office and supervise a whole institution.
In the absence of your trade inspectors, Mr Minister of Trade go out there and get first-hand information and make your recommendations on the way forward. If government is for the people, and they are representing the people, it is thus responsibilities of the state to ensure that the people are well satisfy with the offers in terms of prices of basic commodities.
The essence of government is to protect and to provide for the people. Government is not a trading agent but can regulate the prices of essential commodities to avoid man by man exploitation. Government has the ability and power to regulate prices for the satisfaction of all and sundry.
It is the role of the government to sincerely regulate the market system with recommendation of prices for basic commodities. In lieu of this, Forum Newspaper is appealing to government to install and capacitate trade inspectors or empower the consumers’ welfare organizations to take up such responsibility in the presence of the police to avoid confrontation, and enhance possible prosecution. With that we once more ask the political leadership of the Ministry of Trade the exact whereabouts of trade inspector or monitors.
Transport and communication ministry should endeavour to regulate the transport sector in the attempt to stabilize prices in the market. The price hike is too much and the ordinary citizens are suffering.
