Lands Minister Hamat Bah addressed public concerns regarding rising expenses on 19 October 2026, asserting that the price of a bag of rice in The Gambia has decreased from D2,200 to between D1,650 and D1,700. During his remarks, Hamat Bah stated, "There is a message circulating that cost of living is high. There are some things Gambians must know." He noted that the administration has increased salaries by more than 110 per cent, adding, "No previous government has done that. Whatever this government is doing today, it is aimed at reducing high cost of living." Hamat Bah argued that agriculture is essential to lower costs, while comparing local rice prices favorably to those in Senegal, Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau.
Regional Rice Price Comparisons
Minister Hamat Bah provided comparative data on regional rice costs during his 19 October 2026 address to contrast prices in The Gambia with neighboring nations. He reported that a bag of rice currently costs D1,770 in Senegal. In Guinea-Conakry, the minister stated that the same quantity of rice is priced at D1,880.
Market conditions in other regional countries show higher costs according to the figures presented by Hamat Bah. He noted that the price of a bag of rice in Liberia stands at D2,130. Sierra Leone records a higher price of D2,670 per bag. Among the countries cited, Guinea-Bissau holds the highest cost at D2,770 per bag of rice. These figures served as the basis for the minister's argument regarding the relative affordability of basic food items within The Gambia.
Salary Increases and Debt
Minister Hamat Bah asserted that the current government has increased salaries by more than 110 percent since President Barrow took office. This policy serves as part of the administration's plan to assist citizens with rising expenses.
Regarding the national debt, Minister Hamat Bah stated that the debt-to-GDP ratio currently sits between 69 and 71 percent. These figures represent a significant change from the period before President Barrow took office, when the ratio remained under 30 percent. The minister presented these statistics to provide context on the fiscal standing of The Gambia during his 19 October 2026 address.
