President Adama Barrow of the Gambia has used his meeting with Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London to lay out his vision for the country’s future and the policies he is pursuing to achieve it.
Speaking at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), an independent policy institute based in London on the theme Shaping the Gambia’s Future: How To Build A Path To Sustainable Progress, Mr said: “It is both a pleasure and honour for me to be invited by Chatham House, an internationally renowned institution, to speak on the topic “Shaping The Gambia’s future: how to build a path to sustainable progress”.
Mr Chairman, the socio-economic and political context of The Gambia has been characterised by over two decades of dictatorship. The country lost its friends and status in the community of nations and respect as home of human rights in Africa.
The peace and stability it nurtured since it attained independence in 1965 eroded in the 22 years of dictatorship. This affected the economy, and disintegrated the social fabric of the society. Many of the youth left in search of a better life; in most cases through dangerous means, to reach Europe and other parts of the world. The political environment was dangerous for freedom of expression and respect for human rights. Thus, a serious brain drain followed.
The business environment was risky, because the rule of law was not respected. The institutions have been destroyed, systems and procedures were not respected; thus instilling care-free attitude in the public service.
This unfortunate scenario forced Gambians to take a decision to define their destiny. In 2016, eight stakeholders in the political arena came together to form a coalition and, on the 1st December 2016 Presidential election, Gambians went to the polls and voted me as President.
Immediately after the Coalition government came to office our first priority was to re-open The Gambia to the world, promote human rights and restore freedom of expression. We had to build confidence amongst our partners and prepare a strategy to put The Gambia on the path of sustainable development. In short, we had to right the wrongs in our institutions, systems and procedures. We had to engage in institutional and legal reforms to ensure efficiency in the public service, good governance and progress in national development. My Government’s strategy is now clearly outlined in the National Development Plan 2018-2021.
One of the first steps undertaken was to establish the rule of law by releasing all political prisoners, set up a review panel on wrongful dismissals and de-congest the Office of the President. All the portfolios were decentralised to their line ministries. This was to allow the experts and technicians to deal with issues in a professional manner and provide technical advice to the Office of the President.
In the meantime, my Government continues to build on its diplomacy to return The Gambia into its rightful place in the community of nations and organisations. One of these is the Commonwealth and we are delighted by the re-admission of The Gambia into the Commonwealth of Nations.
Building the path of sustainable progress in The Gambia cannot be isolated from the global trend of events. It calls for working towards a “Common future”, the theme for this year’s Commonwealth meeting. The spirit of togetherness is key for effective change.
This has been demonstrated when Gambians came together to change a dictatorship, which for two decades, rubbed the country’s resources. My Government inherited just over one month of import cover, thus its dependence on international support to revitalise its economy. Therefore, developed countries should provide improved access to their markets; introduce and promote measures to liberalise trade, particularly in processed agricultural and manufactured goods.
The reality of climate change has subjected our people to abject poverty and driven our youth to illegal migration. To address this unfortunate situation, youth employment is a key priority of my Government. Particularly important is their participation in socio-economic activities, training and entrepreneurship.
My government is working to introduce and implement action-oriented measures designed to fight poverty. These measures include effective promotion trade and investment, given their importance and potential in generating employment for the youth and economic growth. Modernised agri-business, processing and packaging of products for the export market will all open The Gambia to regional and global markets. It has the land, water and human resource to curb hunger and ensure food security.
When we came to office, we instantly faced formidable challenges because of domestic and foreign debt and widespread economic mismanagement. Therefore, my government has embarked on the effective implementation of macroeconomic policies that are supportive of the sustainable development goals.
Priority will be given to decentralise economic activities throughout the country. The rational use and allocation of resources have so far been employed without sacrificing the quality and standards of services. Conscious efforts have also been made to strengthen and improve institutional, technical and managerial capabilities of public sector agencies, and the institutional framework for macroeconomic planning and development is fully operational. Sector programmes and projects have been aligned to the National Development Plan 2018 – 2021.
Special focus is also being given to improving the economic and social status of women. Policy decisions and projects are designed to promote gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
Efforts are being made towards diversifying The Gambia’s economy, through agriculture, tourism and fisheries. This requires knowledge transfer and skills development for the youth and to improve the livelihood of rural families. All these are meant to put Gambia on a sure path to sustainable progress.
As part of the effort to promote trade and enhance private sector initiatives designed to increase employment and promote the diversification of the Gambian economy, special focus is put on accelerating the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises. The enabling environment has been created to attract both domestic and foreign direct investment.
The initiatives include the improvement of the institutional credit support system for small and medium enterprises, as well as improving the regulatory environment for business.
Mr. Chairman, my government’s strategy on education focuses on providing quality of basic education, improving the qualification and quality of teachers, strengthening science and technology in higher education and developing coherent and sustainable systems for technological skills acquisition and development.
Also, improving women’s level of education and literacy is part of gender responsive development. Where necessary new schools will be built and existing ones upgraded.
Given the importance of ensuring quality health services, due emphasis is put one stablishing an integrated primary health care system, reducing mortality rates, ascertaining food security and the provision of safe drinking water. Other activities promote reproductive health rights and environmental sanitation. My government will also improve the efficiency of hospitals and other health facilities.
Mr Chairman, to be successful in all our endeavours, The Gambia would certainly need the continued good will and special assistance of developed countries. In the same vein, I recommend that the International Financial Institutions recognise the special circumstances of The Gambia and significantly increase the amount of concessionary loans provided to the country.
Now that The Gambia has been re-admitted into the Commonwealth of Nations, we can look forward to a strong diversified support from the Commonwealth.
The Gambia cannot build the right path to sustainable progress without ensuring that there is peace, stability and justice. In this regard, my Government has embarked on transitional justice for legal and constitutional reforms to entrench human rights, peace, justice, freedom of expression and the rule of law.
The political will is to ensure that democracy thrives and citizens effectively take ownership of the development process.
In conclusion, the NEW GAMBIA is determined to overcome obstacles along the way in building a path for sustainable progress. As President, I feel humbled the delivering of good governance and accountability, social cohesion, and a revitalised economy for the wellbeing of all Gambians, as stated in our National Development Plan 2018-2021.
The President is saying all the right things that will allow friends and investors to have confidence in this climate, what is needed now is actions to backup those words. There are too many enemies of progress, too many hypocrites and too many selfish and shortsighted Gambians working for Mr Barrow. To be successful Mr Barrow needs to form his own team and divorce himself from these enemies of progress.
Some guys in this comments room don’t have no respect for mother’s especially women they use vulgaris and abusive words against each other, this really make readers feels bored and disgusting. We should be civilised and respect our moms and our differences without going after moms and parents that is a child behaviours.
Mr Barrow appears to have {at long last} grasped the nettle of government// But to ask for more loans indicates { despite his positive words} that the Mercury remains at a very low level. By now we should have expected Government to provide the necessary economic data to give us a realistic and proven and improving economic record/ and outlook/ At least the APRC gave regular analysis of data with forecasts/
The IMF did indicate that inflation was falling and growth forecast were set to improve/ But the historic debt to GDP ratio had got worse at %120 of GDP/ The Gambian government needs to follow a policy of debt reduction allied to better growth with inflation lowering. To Borrow/ tax and spend has never been a successful way for past and present governments to proceed/
For Gambia to improve it’s overall economic performance/ It need s reliable data from which to form a sound and prudent economic plan. One can only suggest that the figures are so bad for this government/ it prefers to hide this data from the public gaze and talk up the present situation which can only be describe as the Ostrich hiding its head in oceans of dry and unproductive sand.
At this point it’s clear to most observers that our country is insolvent. What is keeping some of us up at night is the lack of urgency and concern on the ground. Their is a conspiracy of silence, really a deliberate attempt to mislead Mr Barrow over the last 12 months concerning the true nature of our economic reality. You cannot fix what you don’t know is wrong. Mr Barrow is just now understanding the true nature of The Gambian plight created by Yahya Jammeh and his enablers. To fix Yahya destructive economic legacy, you must:
1. See the problem.
2. Have a good plan to fix the problem.
3. Get a group of honest and competent people to help you.
4. Slowly remove the remnants of Yahya loyalists who are sabotaging your best efforts in plain site.
5. Stay focused and disciplined.
I think the data is there for all to see, we know what is a sound and prudent economic plan, what Barrow lacks is, his own team, absent saboteurs. He, Barrow must act with reckless abandonment to remove the shackles of debt around our neck, for if care is not taken, this giant albatross will sink the future of generations of Gambians.
Dr Isatou Sarr,
I keep wondering why you don’t hit the nail on the head. Why can’t you canvass for opposition to an UNQUALIFIED person at a very responsible position?
The public speeches of this UNQUALIFIED person, his interviews, are just disgraceful. Haven’t you listened to his interview in London? What a disgrace. This simply shows we have an UNQUALIFIED person at a very important position. So NOTHING, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING will function properly. Those surrounding him will only take advantage of his limited knowledge of state affairs and make do with their personal interests. That’s the TRUTH.
The 21st Century with its advanced technology in every sphere of life does not permit (semi)illiterates to manage state affairs. You know that very well. You are a medical doctor who would never allow Babu Soli, a Maths Professor into an operating theatre, would you? Just simple logic that made countries progress!
Make sure this man does not stay beyond the three years signed in their agreement!
Babu there never has been qualification requirement for Presidency anywhere in the world.Otherwise the hypocrisy is only meted against African leaders by the so called civilized Dictators and they are the Western countries.Let me ask these open questions to any body who can answer them,and they are: 1)Was Tony Blair who chaired the meeting with President Barrow in Chatham House in London qualified then to be the Prime minister of England with all the loops his administration left to the vulnerable world?2)Was George W.Bush qualified to be President of United States of America when he and Tony Blair jointly invaded Iraq with unjustifiable reasons causing mayhem?3)Finally at home,I ask were both ex-President Dawda Jawara and ex-President Yahya Jammeh qualified to be Presidents when they assumed leadership?Of course all Gambia`s political leaders are as ordinary as President Barrow and therefore one has to accept the reality that leadership dispensation is a learning process. A good leader learns and accepts rectifications and improves on better before his/her tenure ends. I hope the little period that President Barrow served as President made it clear to all that he is prepared to listen and learn. There is hope ahead for a sustained development and good Governance.
Omar Baldeh,
You have really discerned the message of my posting. When we talk about QUALIFICATION in all spheres of life we are asking for minimun requirements for the proper dispensation of a position in question.
I sincerely disagree with you that there is no QUALIFICATION requirement for Presidency. Why was it constitutionally stipulated that secular education (not Qu’ranic or Biblical education alone) is a requirement to contest for presidency? Why was it constitutionally stipulated that at least high school education is required to contest for presidency? These are the minimun requirements for presidency in the Gambia. Besides, you have to be physically and mentally healthy to contest at a specified age holding Gambian nationality with specified period of residence in the Gambia. All these are requirements.
Is it enough to be a high school graduate to contest as president? I don’t share that level of education to qualify for the position of president.
We must also ask what level of high school education one has to obtain to contest as president. All these pertinent requirements save the country from shame, embarrassment and disgrace when a leader has to address his/her nation and the outside world on matters pertaining to economic, social and political issues. So, we need well prepared citizens.
Omar Baldeh,
I wanted to write: You HAVEN’T discerned the message of my posting.
Omar,
Have a look at this short profile of those who led the Gambia,
-Sir Dawda K. Jawara was a veterinary doctor who graduated from one of the most prestigious universities in Scotland. He was among Africa’s most profilic leaders. I’m not a PPP supporter, but this man was well educated.
-Kukoi Samba Sanyang was a political science graduate from the university of Guinea-Conakry.
-Yahya AJJ Jammeh was a Gambia High School product who attended a Military college in The USA
-Adama Barrow, I learnt, attended Muslim Sen.Sec School, went to Europe and over-stayed in The UK where he was employed as a watchman at the Argos markets. He didn’t bother to read!
Yaya Jammeh did not do well at his Gsce o’level and could not proceed to A’Level.
Military training does not equip one to rule a nation but to be a soldier and lead soldiers. Yaya had very little knowledge of economics or finance and you can see all those who had sound knowledge of running a country were all eliminated at the initial stages of AFRC. All the initial members of the coup had average O’level results except for Edward who went up to do A’level but got FFF in his final results.
We need sincere leaders and those with understanding of how the world works. OJ with all his experience left us with bad projects and people like Seedia and Halifa seem to be gratecul5to be MPS.
Paul Kagamé on radio Rwanda: “If our country ranks first in Africa, and the whole world is watching us today, it’s not because we have the Vatican, the Kabba, the White House, the Elysee or the Taj Mahal here at home.
Not because you have a certain Paul Kagame as head of state, but rather because you have sons and daughters of Rwanda in this country.
Men and especially young people and Rwandan women who have forgiven each other, and who have taken the destiny of their country in hand by the meaning of work, innovations and patriotism as the key to their progress and development . What we are doing here in Rwanda is not a miracle, nor is it impossible elsewhere, it is simply the commitment of an entire nation, especially Rwandan youth and women, but also political will.
Soon, we will have the best universities in the world at home (NYU, Hardvard, London School of Economics, FIT …) We will also have the best hospitals in Rwanda. The intelligence and competence of our children will be equal to or greater than that of the great powers, and our country Rwanda will be a new door of opportunity, knowledge, technology and innovation for all African children and the world who want to learn from us or still give us their knowledge.
Rwanda will not only be at the rendezvous of civilizations, but also of science and technology and all the cultures that will dominate the world.
Today, more than 40% of our agriculture is being dominated by technology, Africa as a whole can do better than us for essential food self-sufficiency, it is all about national interest and the African people.
Although we are now far from our past, let us make good use of the present to hit the future. Because, the most difficult is no longer where we come from, but rather the where we want and dream to go. In Rwanda, we desire and dream to go far thanks to this people and to this now conscious youth ”
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Babu I know the points you want raise here.Remember how this transition Government came about. I was a staunch supporter of ex-President Jammeh during his first two terms elections as President but slowed my space in political activities when I started to smell the rat. You Know African politics Babu,much more that of The Gambia. Ex-President Jammeh`s revolution started very well and garnered big support from the majority of Gambians until high handedness started to show it`s ugly face. Gambians are peaceful and scared of such brutes despite what ever development packages delivered to them. At the end all the massive developments achieved during his tenure were dwarfed by poor Human Rights records. With Ex-President Jawara,s lenience and slow space for socioeconomic development led to the tumbling of his Government. I bet you Babu, President Adama Barrow will make a very good leader if he continues to listen and accept good advice from his serving technocrats.
Omar Baldeh,
When will he accept advice and from who?
When this man has already started to abuse his office by appointing UNQUALIFIED people on the basis of patronage and lineage; when he has already sent his children to expensive private universities in the USA; when he has built a mansion for himself in his MankamangKunda villag; when he refused to curtail the activities of his wives’ USELESS offices; when he asks numerous buddies to fly first class with him to every conference…….and many more squandering sprees…when will he make a good “leader”? Is it when we are exhausted in POVERTY?
Babu,as I already mentioned this Government is just a transitional one and as such the media especially logical criticism shall change all such behaviors unlike our past Presidents. He is inexperienced and has repeatedly said that he is ready to listen and learn. Obviously power corrupts and corrupts absolutely, and if whenever he stops listening and learning to rectify his mistakes then lessons learnt are not applied at all. In that case the electorate are out there waiting for the ballots to decide.That`s Democracy.
Omar Baldeh,
I know you unreservedly support a government that is bloated with UNQUALIFIED people, but be rest assured that they will never listen nor learn. This is the Gambian tendency. Before the electorate learn that they are voting for the wrong people, it would be late. Because in Africa, it’s really a hard hurdle to unseat a sitting administration that has all the CORRUPT and ILLEGAL tentacles to stay in power. The electorate, the greater mayority, vote on patronage and lineage. That was the real proof in the last local government elections.
Your INEPT administration is not seeing itself a transitional body but a group that should stay for five years and repeat. That’s the political gimmick they are playing right now. That’s NOT democracy!