(JollofNews) – The European Union is pumping some 3,75 billion Dalasi into the Gambia to help strengthen the democratisation processs in the small West African country.
The contribution, according to Neven Mimica, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, is part of his organisations commitments to partner with the Gambia on its path towards democracy.
He said the EU will before the end of the year inject an additional D7,5 billion aid into the country.
Announcing the new aid package shortly after her meeting President Adama Barrow, Carla Montesi, director for West and Central Africa at the European Commission Directorate of International Cooperation and Development, said: “Today’s disbursement is an important step forward for the EU’s development partnership with the Gambian Government. We remain committed to supporting Gambians in their democratic transition.
“Through this unprecedented grant, the EU aims to promote sound public financial management, mobilising domestic resources and fighting corruption as well as supporting political reforms.
“The EU is also looking forward to strengthening its relations with the Gambia in the fields of migration and economic development and in particular support to youth employment.”
The European Union is the Gambia’s largest donor. Last month, the organisation, disbursed D1,25 billion to help stabilise the Gambia’s budget and balance of payment.
So what was Madi and Co. saying ?
Come on now>> give us 5 reasons why this is not International support for the Gambia’s ambition, on the road to reforms and promises. ???
So far so good, the rest is down to patience and universal support.
But I won’t say I told you so>>again. Next complaint please.
I assume some government commission or expert has prepared a detailed plan how exactly the government can “strengthen the democratisation processs” and that the EU money has been granted specifically to make that plan happen. It would be good to include in your article a reference to the project’s description, or even better: a description in your own words.
This would be especially interesting because Ms Montesi describes the goals of the plan differently: “to promote sound public financial management, mobilising domestic resources and fighting corruption as well as supporting political reforms.”
I think it’s important that the public knows, or at least that they can find out for themselves, what exactly the government is planning to do with that money.
Top of the list should be the empowerment of Young people, to attain a skill or a vocation. This has shown to reap significant economic and social benefits. Another urgent requirement is Banking & Tax reform. “incentives” being the operative word.
The government can assist employment by undertaking a spending on structural reform, that would include Transport, Roads, and Seaways.
It is never the amount of money available, but how you employ/deploy it.
Mike Scales, in Gambia’s case study this time when the National Treasury is Supposedly “Empty”, we can do with both “How much” money one has and “How” it is “employed” or “deployed”. It can’t hurt but add to Accountability and Due Diligence to the How, Where and Why the Billions of Dalasis were Spent. Consent you?
Transparency, Probity and Accountability>>>is what most democratic governments advertise; Sadly they can come up with all manner of excuses when fingers are caught in the till. After an unearthly silence from The Gambian government>>one has to say in the past few weeks the government are saying and promising all the rights things.
Reading all comments most days on Jollof News, Gambians appear to be expecting the worst. I think considering the last 22 years of experience, this is totally understandable. However, I have always abided by this >. Judge me by what I do, not by what I say. I think negative thoughts, can cause a malfunction, that otherwise, would not have occurred. If you keep telling someone they are bad>> then you should expect they will believe you eventually.
With renewed optimism and over subscribed budget support, this government must be accountable for all the monies coming into its coffers. The previous government lacked external budget support, hence there was increasing need to borrow money and raised the public debt to such dangerous levels. We expect prudency in the huge funds from our development partners or else? ???
Bourne; Holding a President to account in Africa, is not a very easy matter when they avoid term limits like the plague. Many countries have a second chamber to rely on when the opposition, fails. Another solution could be to have a Prime Minister, with The President focusing on being The Head of State. Hence there are several checks and balances on government where power is less than total with greater scrutiny. It is often said that Power corrupts whilst total power corrupts absolutely. The measure of the Barrow government is when it intends to hold the next General Election. Then and only then can the people support President Barrow { if he stays } of change the leadership.
What your government intends on this question>>is disappointingly vague. But Myself I think President Barrow deserves support leading up to that date. My only concerns are over the use of sedition and the harsh regulation on bone fide protest and deregulation of the media. We await the long awaited arrival of the upgraded Constitution.In the meantime there should be avoidance by the government on using these very contentious constitutional laws. The government should start where intends to go. Not start where the last government left off.