Officials from the Government of Western Bahr el Ghazal State, led by Governor General Sheriff Daniel Sheriff, on Tuesday visited Wau’s Jaw Market to assess the commodity prices.
Addressing the media during the market visit, Wol Charles Aleu, the chairman of the local chamber of commerce, highlighted that the rising prices of some goods are driven by high importation costs and multiple taxes.
“The reason for high prices of commodities in the shops is that they are imported from neighboring countries and then there is taxation and other payments along the way, and when goods reach here, the state also taxes them,” he explained.
For his part, Wau Municipal Council Mayor Joseph John Andrea emphasized the importance of Jaw Market, describing it as one of the largest supply hubs for the entire Western Bahr el Ghazal region.
“This is the biggest market in Western Bahr el Ghazal and in Block C in Wau Municipality, and we thank you for your visit,” he said. “You might have heard from the traders about their cooperation with the municipality.”
Several of the traders in Jaw Market said that they are hopeful that the governor’s visit will lead to solutions to challenges like street taxes and price fluctuation, which affect their businesses.
“If you come to the market, you find that prices fluctuate a lot, and we hope that the governor’s visit will address these challenges, said Makungu Edward, a local trader.
He added that vegetable prices drop, but that those of items like meat and sugar remain high.
Another vendor, Viviana Peter, attributed skyrocketing commodity prices to bad roads and insecurity.
“People are saying the roads are bad and there is also insecurity; therefore, we are calling on the government to address these issues,” she stated.
Responding to the traders, Governor Sheriff Daniel pledged his administration’s commitment to improving security and supporting the agricultural sector to boost crop production to improve food security across the state.
“We have moved to all the markets and we have heard from different traders, including pharmacies, and now we have reached the leading market serving the state,” he said. “As the government, we are assuring you that we will provide security so that you can also go for your farming and other businesses.”
This visit marks Governor Sheriff’s first inspection of Jaw Market, during which he was accompanied by security officials, the mayor, the chamber of commerce officials, and the state’s cabinet affairs minister.