By Africa 24 feature news

Not all in Africa are prices of things so expensive to buy by people.

But a few of the West African countries have expensive goods which put the cost of living hard for the very poor. Sierra Leone is experiencing the same situation as prices of basic goods have gone up since 2019.

Now the government, after it changed its currency to a new Leone,  it is still unable to stable the economy especially by putting down the cost on goods and services.

For example, the staple food, rice, is still sold above 7,000 in the country, which makes it hard for low income families to be able to purchase a cup in a day. While the salaries of workers are still kept low the money they receive is not enough to buy the goods they need from the market. And they are unable to sort out the cost on services like paying up electricity bills and water rates. The current inflation in the country also touches local foodstuffs which cause a twin-effect on peoples’ purchasing power on home needs.

Gambia has a low inflation on some goods. But sugar is expensive there than it is in Sierra Leone while social services are less paid for by citizens. Speaking to a Sierra Leonean lady who went on a visit in Gambia, she said,”Gambia is fine with prices on clothes, drinks and other things than Sierra Leone.”

“I love being in Gambia; most Sierra Leoneans are there.”