Traders in a market at ‘Pepeh’ Wharf in Tombo in the Western Area Rural District have on Friday January 8, 2021 decried the closure of ‘Lumas’ (markets)and borders crossing points.
They added that the closures have reduced the volume and proceeds of their trade, sometimes leaving them with little or no sales and worsening their living conditions.
Adama Jalloh, the Deputy Chairlady at the Market, explained that they used to buy goods from Bamoi Luma and Guinea, but the border closure as precautionary measures to combat the coronavirus in the country put a stop to it. She added that now prices of goods have increased thus making them earn no profit from sales.
“It is really hard for us to reap profit from the goods that we usually buy to sell,” he said.
She noted that before now they used to earn much profit with which they provided for themselves and their families. “I trade in pepper, beans and other fresh farm produce. Before, I used to take care of my family but it is hard for me now to sustain them. I used to buy a bag of dried pepper at Le 850,000, but a bag of dried pepper now sells at 1,300,000. She added that a bag of beans was bought for Le 750,000 but now its price has now increased to le 1,100,000 a bag,” she emphasized.
She is a bread winner in a family of four school-going children; “but since the ‘Lumas’ and borders were closed, it is very difficult for me to take care of them. Now, women have taken the responsibilities of the homes.”
She said that since farmers were not engaged in the production of pepper in the country they decided to be traveling to Guinea for such goods. “We can no longer go to buy goods in Guinea and that has resulted in the increase in price of few of the goods that are available in Sierra Leone.”
She noted that since she started in her trade it was in 2020 and 202I that she has sold a cup of beans for Le 4,000 which they used to sell at Le 2, 000 a cup.
She appealed to government thus: “If it is a loan, we would appreciate it from the government in order to help boost our business because the suffering is too much for us in Tombo. Money which the government offered to other business women recently we were never fortunate to have.”
She added that in spite of the difficulties they are contributing to the government greatly by paying their taxes and market dues.
By Ibrahim S. Bangura
8/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7975