The ban was imposed a few years ago by the previous regime of Yahya Jammeh “to encourage Gambians to take up farming and grow what they eat and eat what they grow.”
However, instead of revitalising the country’s ailing agricultural industry, the ban led to a shortage and price increment of basic commodities.
To reduce the financial burden on families, the new regime has with immediate effect set aside the ban which was unilaterally imposed by its predecessor.
In a statement from the Presidency:
“The ban on the importation of onions and potatoes is lifted. Therefore all importers of onions and potatoes are free to import these products.”
In a similar development, in pursuit of its open and liberal economic policies aimed at boosting trade and economic growth, the government has also lowered the duty on imported flour from 47% to the normal rate of 20%.
The government has also removed the additional measures of D1 per kilo of cement and a 5% excise tax.
