Senegalese businessman Bougane Guèye has announced a $25 million investment plan in The Gambia, targeting media, technology, and agribusiness sectors. This follows a meeting with President Barrow and is in line with Guèye's business model previously implemented in Côte d’Ivoire.
Dr. Abubacarr Jawara, CEO of Gambia, Africa, China Holding (GACH), has significantly reduced the cost of basalt in The Gambia by importing it directly from Ivory Coast, bypassing Senegal. This move has made basalt more accessible for construction projects in the country, saving both time and money for Gambians. Jawara also commended President Barrow's administration for creating an environment conducive to private investment.
Mohammed BS Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, represented his country at the African Heads of State Energy Summit, where he emphasized the importance of energy in national development and economic empowerment. In his address, he reaffirmed The Gambia's commitment to expanding electricity access, aiming to provide power to 90% of its population by June 2025 and achieve universal electricity access by the end of 2025. The summit, organized by the African Union, the World Bank, and the African Development Bank, sought to strategize on achieving universal electricity access for over 300 million people across Africa.
The Gambia's Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) has concluded an eight-day Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) training to enhance the country's debt management capabilities. The training, conducted in partnership with the West Africa Institute for Financial and Economic Management (WAIFEM) and funded by the Africa Legal Support Facility (ALSF), involved officials from various Gambian financial institutions. The initiative aims to address institutional capacity challenges and foster inter-agency coordination for effective and sustainable debt management.
The article criticizes the Gambia's President Adama Barrow's government for its focus on road construction at the expense of other sectors such as healthcare and education. The author argues that while infrastructure development is important, it has led to a declining standard of living, a struggling healthcare system, increasing crime rates, and deteriorating educational outcomes. The piece calls for a more balanced approach to development, prioritizing investments in healthcare, education, job creation, and social services.
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 Adama Barrow of The Gambia has emphasized his government's commitment to reducing living costs, increasing domestic production, and modernizing infrastructure for economic stability. He outlined efforts to encourage business investment in agriculture and energy, including a tender for a 50MW solar farm, and addressed concerns over the privatization of the country's main port. Barrow's administration faces the challenge of translating these policies into real economic relief for ordinary Gambians, with the success of these initiatives crucial in determining whether The Gambia can achieve sustainable growth and reduce its dependence on imports.
The Brikama Area Council has strongly objected to the demolition of vendor stalls near the Brikama Magistrates' Court by West Coast Region Governor Ousman Bojang. The council alleges that the governor attempted to use police force to execute the action, despite prior consultations with authorities confirming the stalls complied with regulations. The situation has sparked tension between the council and the governor, but a stakeholder meeting was held to restore relationships and promote collaboration in regional development.