The Gambia government's key road project, the Hakalang Road, has been funded by tax payer’s money and has taken five years to complete, with annual allocations of hundreds of millions of dalasi. Despite an announcement that the road will be inaugurated in April 2025, there are projections for further allocations of 621 million dalasi in 2026 and 658 million dalasi in 2027, raising questions about the project's financial management.
President Barrow, initially an independent candidate, is currently serving his second term in The Gambia, despite initially agreeing to serve for only three years. This year, as The Gambia turns 60, questions arise about whether Barrow will establish a two-term limit for future presidents or seek another term, potentially continuing a history of long-serving presidents in the country.
The Gambia's Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, has announced that the Hakalang road project is nearing completion, with an inauguration expected by the end of April 2025. The project, which is fully funded by the Gambian government, includes an 85-kilometer road stretch divided into three sections, with approximately 85% of the work already completed. The Minister also visited other ongoing road projects in the country, emphasizing that these roads are linked to essential services like hospitals and schools.
The Director of the National Environment Agency (NEA) in The Gambia, Dr. Dawda Badjie, has warned against littering and emphasized the agency's commitment to enforcing anti-littering laws. During a ceremony at the NEA headquarters, the agency donated cleaning materials to various institutions to support environmental cleanliness efforts. Dr. Badjie expressed concern over the misuse of these materials and the increasing waste littered across the country.
The Ministry of Public Service in The Gambia, led by Baboucarr Bouy, has identified approximately 2,700 'unseen workers' across ten ministries, saving about D13.5 million per month. Following an internal audit conducted in April 2024, over 3,000 workers' salaries were blocked, with 882 reinstated after verification of their statuses. The ministry is currently entering data for the fourteenth ministries as part of their ongoing internal audit.
The Old Jeshwang Health Centre in The Gambia was recognized for its exceptional performance and dedication to providing quality medical services to the community. The award ceremony, held on 30th January 2025, acknowledged the significant roles of the staff and management in the facility's progress. The health center, serving a population of 21,863, conducts an average of 240 to 300 deliveries per year.
The Gambia's Minister of Public Service, Baboucarr Bouy, announced a collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and support from Bangladesh to digitize a government portal for improved public service delivery. The digitization process aims to simplify access to national identification cards, passports, driver’s licenses, birth certificates, and business registration. The Minister also revealed plans for an internal audit on all ministries, except Basic and Secondary Education, Health, and Agriculture, to control the country's wage bill.