By Yero S. Bah
The importation of second-hand goods into the Gambia is a lucrative business since majority of Gambians just love the items imported for various reasons, key among them, is that they are always cheaper and affordable for the average Gambian.
Many Gambians can be seen trading numerous items that are imported from western countries such as Europe and the United States of America, and also China. These items can be clothing, household materials or appliances as well as skills training tools destined for sub-Saharan African (SSA).
According to traders of these items, the business was booming in the Gambia until the emergence or outbreak of the infectious disease caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus, which has halted virtually every sense of the business both in the Gambia and abroad, since all of their products are imported ones.
Mr. Demba Touray is a Gambian who sells second-hand materials such as digital cameras, clothes, stereos, shoes, recorders, among other goods, in his shop located on the Abuko-Lamin highway, Abuko in West Coast Region.
Mansa Banko Online held an interview with Touray, on Monday, 4th May 4, 2020 during which he delved into the “state of affairs” of business. He said business has come to a standstill because all of their second-hand goods are imported into the Gambia from the West for onward resale.
The closure of land and sea borders, as well as the airport due to the Covid-19 pandemic had severely disrupted their livelihoods.
“All my goods are imported from the United Kingdom,” Touray informed. He started the trade in partnership with some British friends and philanthropists who wanted to create employment for Gambians, and according to him, he employed more than seven (7) people in his shop, and he has another eleven (11) employees at a Senegambia physical sporting centers called Qpool.
Through their business, Touray said they offer charitable aids to needy Gambians and they always render medical support to Bwiam Hospital, computers to village youth centers for computer literacy and also provide material support to orphanages around the country, upon thorough needy assessment processes and procedures. He declared, “We are a philanthropist business.”
However, Touray expressed frustrations over the negative effects of the coronavirus lockdown and border closures on his establishment, reasoning that most of his clients are from the neighboring countries, namely Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry. He also lamented that his sales have reduced drastically since people are no longer allowed to criss-cross the international borders. His local clients are also careful on their spending spree because, as could be deduced from his statement, they (clients) have no idea as to what the future hold for them as far as coronavirus pandemic is concerned. “People are extremely conscious of their spending power in this coronavirus period,” Touray observed.
In his words, they are not into business to make profit but to purely create employment for Gambians and offer charitable support to needy people in the country. He added that his partner, David Barrette and team were purely looking for ways and means of helping people; “we are not profit-oriented”.
On the marketing element of his business, the philanthropist is using the “online world” to attract clients both in the Gambia and beyond, as he pointed out that the Internet has now made trade easier and cheaper for businessmen.
Touray held that in this coronavirus era, to boost business transactions would be almost impossible, noting before the outbreak business was doing well, but as of now, “it is terrible”. The trader entreats the Gambia Government to reduce their taxes, maintaining that would be the best option for petty traders in these trying moments because they have salaries to settle with employees and rents to pay to landlords.
“Government should reduce our taxes just as they did for fuel cost for the drivers,” the Touray recommended. He divulged that they are currently in a real dilemma and government should come to their aid. While he’s not advocating for tax-free businesses since the country almost entirely depends on taxation to survive, Touray is of the strong view that tax reduction should be considered for the business community, especially for the small scale traders.
The businessman said he’s disappointed that the Gambia Ports Authority has exorbitantly increased importation tax without even giving prior notice to importers, and he pointed to “lack of professionalism” in that regard. As he explained, the situation had once caused him run into demurrage charges at some point, in his business, “which should not have been the case”. He rhetorically asked, “How can the government increase taxes on importation without informing us, the partners?” Touray asked rhetorically.
Touray used the interview to admonish Gambians to be careful in this Covid-19 era, and to observe all the protective measures put in place to effectively curb the spread of the virus in the country.
He cautioned that if Covid-19 could cripple powerful nations like the United States of America, then it can easily destroy the Gambia which he described as a “hamlet” compared to other countries.
