Scales Not Satisfied With Groundnut Price Set For 2008/2009 Trade Season

….. “I acknowledge the statement from The President of The Gambia regarding the  alleged hindrance to its re-export trade through the Gateway Project, that Senegal has consistently presented to the economic expansion of The Gambia.”

Dear Mr.Editor,

The complex question of how The Gambia, reinforces the profitability of its groundnut operation remains a difficult situation to solve. The guaranteed price of 8000 dalais per ton this year, seems to me to be too small to do more than just about sustain the poverty of the farmers.....who will hardly break even. The fundamental question is the change in the Global market for groundnuts. The International reprocessing operations are increasingly reluctant to interrupt production to do "small runs" these days. The market is geared towards purchasing finished bi products as opposed to crushing and refining. This poses an on going difficulty for The Gambia, which I'm afraid will only get worse. A couple of years ago,  I informed the Gambian Ministry of Agriculture, { who were struggling to purchase fertiliser}, that in fact my contacts with The Government of Togo were happy to consider exchanging Gambian groundnuts for their fertiliser. It occurs to me that The Gambian Government would be better extending this batering idea to exchanging groundnuts for prime food requirements.. such as rice. Such a move would have a major benefit towards the trade surplus figures of the nation and in the right conditions produce an advantage to the economy through the guaranteed and growing price of rice, through its re-export operation. The idea of commodity exchange as opposed to outright sale and purchase would work very efficiently for a small and uncomplicated economy like that within The Gambia.

I acknowledge the statement from The President of The Gambia regarding the  alleged hindrance to its re-export trade through the Gateway Project, that Senegal has consistently presented to the economic expansion of The Gambia.

The Gambia being landlocked by its much larger neighbour...Senegal, remains

at the mercy of the goodwill of Senegal to allow free and unhindered passage

through its territory to supply neighbouring African countries. Without this "goodwill" The Gambia remains at a significant disadvantage. President Jammeh's recent statement to this effect and his frustration following the recent meeting with Ecowas leaders  was to me quite evident in his advertised press release this week.

If Ecowas is to mean anything other than a holiday weekend for Presidents, it must start to encourage constructive measures to further integration and co-operation between member states.

The announcement by President Yar a'du of Nigeria, that he intends to end impunity from prosecution for alleged graft for its government and provincial officers is a very welcome and a much awaited positive move. I have previously highlighted the co-operation between The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and The British Metropolitan Police in this area.

The further illicit trade in fake drugs from the Far East into Africa, is a prominent and escalating problem for the West African region. China last year, conservatively estimated that some 180,000 of its citizens have so far died through this increasingly well organised Graft. Many of the drugs contain little more than brick dust and foreign substances which are normally packaged in well facsimilated boxes, and are very difficult to tell from the originals. I have a close African family member who died unaware he was being prescribed fake insulin. The co-operation of The Ecowas member states using the intelligence of British police is therefore highly recommended. Forewarned is forearmed.

 May we take this opportunity to wish the Editor and staff of The Freedom Newspaper and all  Gambians and non Gambians present..A Very Merry  and Peaceful Christmas....

  Michael and Uloma.....U.K.