The newly registered Unite Party has launched a strong critique of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) following the unveiling of its new election manifesto, arguing that President Adama Barrow’s administration should first account for its record in office before seeking another mandate in the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking on West Coast Radio’s flagship programme, Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, Unite Party spokesperson Kemo Bojang said the government’s performance over the past nine years should be the central issue in the upcoming election campaign, rather than a fresh set of promises.
Bojang argued that the National Development Plan (NDP), which has guided the government’s policies since President Barrow took office, should effectively serve as the administration’s manifesto.
“It makes little sense to ask Gambians for another mandate without first accounting for the last nine years,” Bojang said. “When a government has been in office for nine years, its National Development Plan should be its manifesto. It should come before the Gambian people and say, ‘These are the promises we made, these are the promises we fulfilled, and these are the ones we could not achieve.’”
He maintained that any incumbent government seeking re-election has a responsibility to present a transparent assessment of its achievements and shortcomings before introducing new policy commitments.
According to Bojang, launching a new manifesto without first evaluating the implementation of the National Development Plan risks weakening public accountability and shifting attention away from the government’s performance.
“Gambians should first examine what was promised and what has actually been delivered,” he said. “If the National Development Plan has not been fully implemented, then Gambians deserve an explanation. If it has failed, why should people believe another document will be different?”
The Unite Party spokesperson argued that elections should increasingly focus on measurable results rather than campaign rhetoric, urging voters to evaluate governments based on the delivery of policies, projects and legislation already promised.
“We need to start assessing governments based on results,” Bojang said. “The question should not simply be what a government promises to do next, but whether it has delivered on what it previously promised.”
Bojang also urged Gambians to assess the NPP administration against current socio-economic conditions, citing the rising cost of living, persistent youth unemployment, continued irregular migration and growing concerns over national security as key issues facing the country.
