Rahma Gambia Ltd inaugurates Gambia's first food processing plant in Foni Kanfenda, aiming to enhance food security, boost exports, and create local jobs. The project signals a crucial step towards self-reliance and economic growth, supported by government officials and community leaders.

Rahma Gambia Ltd initiates Gambia's first food processing plant in Foni Kanfenda, aiming to bolster food security, create jobs, and reduce reliance on imports. Government officials and local leaders applaud the venture for its potential economic and social impact.

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall advocates for a shift from traditional aid to economic partnerships with Africa during his address at the Atlantic Council, emphasizing the continent's readiness for investment and industrial collaboration, highlighting its abundant natural resources and urging mutually beneficial ventures with the U.S.

- Advertisement - Donald Trump’s executive orders suspending so-called foreign aid should serve as a wake-up call for African leaders who have long relied on external assistance to drive development. The Gambia Action Party (GAP) firmly opposes any leader who continues to depend on foreign aid while neglecting the vast resources within Africa’s borders. Many African leaders misuse state resources, allowing foreign governments and institutions to control their economies through aid.

- Advertisement - Donald Trump’s executive orders suspending so-called foreign aid should serve as a wake-up call for African leaders who have long relied on external assistance to drive development. The Gambia Action Party (GAP) firmly opposes any leader who continues to depend on foreign aid while neglecting the vast resources within Africa’s borders. Many African leaders misuse state resources, allowing foreign governments and institutions to control their economies through aid.

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.

Dr. Cherno Barry, former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health and current deputy head of the Senegalo-Gambia Permanent Secretariat, testified in the economic crimes trial of three health officials in The Gambia. The accused, PS Muhammadou Lamin Jaiteh, Balla Kandeh, and Omar Malleh Ceesay, face 18 charges including economic crimes, forgery, corruption, and theft related to the Gates Foundation-funded Global Fund's national malaria control program. The case is set to continue on March 5.

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.

The article discusses the implications of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger's exit from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) on regional stability, economic cooperation, and collective security, with a particular focus on The Gambia. It suggests that The Gambia, which has historically relied on Ecowas for military support, needs to develop its own military capabilities to maintain national sovereignty and self-sufficiency. The article also highlights the potential for increased instability and economic uncertainty in West Africa due to this shift.

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 Njie Charakh School of Business Training in The Gambia has graduated 200 women entrepreneurs after a five-month intensive course on business and entrepreneurship. The school, which was established a year ago, has trained over 500 entrepreneurs to date. The CEO of Njie Charakh, Morr Sarr, highlighted the profits made by the entrepreneurs within five months of completing training and called on the government to support such initiatives to boost job creation and reduce unemployment.

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, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have signed a historic agreement to implement free roaming, aiming to lower mobile costs for travelers and improve regional connectivity. The deal, which aligns with ECOWAS regulations, was formalized by regulators from each country's telecommunications authority and is expected to boost trade, tourism, and business operations. The initiative is part of a broader effort to expand free-roaming agreements across all ECOWAS member states, potentially contributing to Africa's projected $180 billion digital economy by 2025.

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.

The Gambia is grappling with rapid population growth, projected to reach 3.5 million by 2025, against limited resources, leading to increased social issues such as crime, poverty, and land grabbing. The high population growth, driven by a youthful demographic, has resulted in rampant unemployment and underemployment, contributing to a rise in crime rates and an increase in poverty. The government is urged to take proactive measures, including investments in family planning, education, healthcare, sustainable agricultural practices, and stronger land tenure laws.