At least 7 traders were arrested on Thursday for reportedly hiking the price of sorghum subsidized by the state government of Northern Bahr el Ghazal.
The state had reportedly supplied the market with sorghum to be sold at a lower price. A sack of sorghum subsidized by the government was to sell at 550 South Sudanese Pounds rather than the market price of 2,000 South Sudanese Pounds.
But some traders in Aweil town reportedly decided to sell the sorghum at the regular market price.
“We have arrested 4 people at Naivasha center, Malou Aweer, Aweil Market and even out of the town,” said Anei Deng Akok, state Minister of Agriculture. “I want to tell our people that the dura were brought for the citizens, so there is no need of us buying and resell them at a high price.”
The state Police Commissioner, Philip Madut reported that they also confiscated 4 sacks of sorghum which traders were hoarding and overpricing at Aweil main market.
“We intervened and found some dura at one of the store and we confiscated them. Our team is still out searching for more dura that might have been store by the traders.”
The state government has established several selling points to ensure the public access the subsidized sorghum. One can purchase sorghum at newly created centers in Panjab, Gateway, Amesego and Maduany.