Lands Minister Hamat Bah says a bag of rice in The Gambia is cheaper than in Senegal, Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau, insisting the Barrow government has cut living costs despite public outcry.
Speaking in Banjul on October 19 at the final meeting of President Barrow's Meet the People Tour, Bah said rice prices have fallen from D2,200 to between D1,650 and D1,700 due to government interventions.
"There is a message circulating that cost of living is high. There are some things Gambians must know," he said.
Bah said the administration has raised salaries by over 110 percent since Barrow took power, a feat no previous government achieved.
"This is a government that has increased salaries by more than 110 per cent. No previous government has done that. Whatever this government is doing today, it is aimed at reducing high cost of living," he said.
Citing regional comparisons, Bah argued The Gambia is more affordable than its neighbours.
"If you go to Senegal, a bag costs D1,770. In Guinea-Conakry, D1,880. In Liberia, D2,130. In Sierra Leone, D2,670, while in Guinea-Bissau, D2,770. So, what exactly are we complaining about?" he said.
He said lasting relief requires boosting local production.
"If we want the cost of living to come down, we must focus on agriculture so that we can produce more food in The Gambia," Bah noted.
The minister also defended the government's fiscal management, claiming Barrow has not issued any sovereign guarantee for a loan since taking office and is repaying debts incurred by past administrations.
He said all government institutions have been audited under Barrow, which he described as unprecedented.
"Before he took over, our debt-to-GDP ratio did not exceed 30 per cent. Today, we have reduced it to between 69 and 71 per cent. Since Barrow took office, his government has not provided any sovereign guarantee for a loan. Today, the government is also repaying some of the loans taken by previous administrations," Bah said.
Bah said those who travel abroad would see The Gambia compares favourably in the sub-region.
"There is too much talk going around. But when you travel to other countries, you realise that what we have in this country cannot be found elsewhere in the sub-region," he said.
He urged Gambians to back President Barrow in the December 5 election to continue his development agenda.