Burkina / Cost of living: A network demands social measures to alleviate the suffering of consumers

Ouagadougou, March 15, 2023 (AIB) – The National Consumer Network of Burkina (RENCOF), in a statement sent to the AIB, demanded, on the occasion of World Consumer Day celebrated this Wednesday, the taking of measures by the authorities of the Transition to alleviate the suffering of the populations, faced with the high cost of living which prevails in Burkina Faso.

“The cavalier and solitary increase in the prices of hydrocarbons, the engines of the economy, has had the effect of causing the prices of consumer products to increase to the point where ordinary foods have become luxury goods”, indicates the declaration of the National Consumer Network of Burkina (RENCOF) signed by its president, Adama Bayala.

According to the president of RENCOF, his network calls on the government of the Burkinabè Transition to take social measures, in order to relieve the suffering of consumers in a context of high cost of living and difficult insecurity in the country.

Adama Bayala produced the statement on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day (JMDC), celebrated this Wednesday under the theme: “Empowering consumers through a transition to clean energy”.

According to him, “the choice of this theme is explained by the high costs of energy in 2023, the ambition to improve access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, with a view to preventing climate change disasters and help reduce future greenhouse gas emissions by 40-70%.

The president of the Network recalls that the price per liter of super 91 went from 615 to 850 CFA francs, from May 11, 2022 to February 10.

He specified that the price of the gas bottle of 6 kg, subsidized by the State, is established at 2,500 instead of 2,000 F CFA and that of 12.5 kg at 7,500 instead of 5,500 F CFA.

For Mr. Bayala, it is time for Burkinabè consumers to take their responsibilities and commit to defending their rights because, according to him, the country has recorded a triple increase in the price of hydrocarbons.

“Inflation, of around 18%, the highest in the WAEMU space, is symptomatic of an increase of around 25 to more than 100% in certain consumer products, such as oils food, cereals, pasta, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics,” he says.

Adama Bayala calls on political decision-makers to control, among other things, the evolution of the prices of energy products, in accordance with the global trend where they are sold cheaper in so-called poor countries, to intensify controls to ensure compliance with the prices of products of high consumption.

The head of RENCOF urges consumers to ensure respect for their rights relating to product quality, information, health, education and a healthy environment.

It invites governments to encourage dialogue with all players in the ecosystem of production, marketing and consumption to achieve a republican contract of commitment against the high cost of living.

Established in 1983 by the international consumer association “Consumer International”, World Consumer Rights Day (JMDC) is celebrated on March 15 each year.

Source: Burkina Information Agency