The two major ingredients that are indispensable prerequisites for socio-economic development of any modern nation are electricity and roads.
Hence if there is anything that Barrow needs to focus on in his presidency it is these two things: roads and electricity. Without roads and electricity the nation cannot move or produce.
The Gambia needs multiple quality roads and an efficient 24 hour-supply of electricity if it is going to make that transformative leap from an under-developed to a developed society. This is the lesson from those countries that are considered developed today.
A nation has many needs such as schools, hospitals, housing, trade, stadiums, food and many other things. But the lifeblood that enables and enhances each and every sector and need of society are electricity and roads. Without these two elements, a government can build schools and hospitals but these facilities will not be able to reach their full potential. One can build beautiful housing estates but without good roads and electricity supply, life will not be convenient in that estate. Without electricity businesses will not make profits and cost of living will be high.
With affordable and accessible electricity, it means therefore we reduce the cost of doing business hence maintain or reduce prices at affordable levels. It means we keep businesses and public sector productivity running nonstop hence increase national output. With increased national output we create more jobs with more opportunities for expansion.
With electricity we make our homes and communities alive and conducive for living. Electricity creates that opportunity where citizens are compelled to initiate, innovate and create because there is power flowing. Without electricity, we discourage investment, innovation and self-actualization. Hence electricity supply is the indispensable lifeblood of the economy just as the heart keeps the human body alive.
Just like electricity, roads also enable the society to move. Good, well-networked roads make goods and people to move around the country at less cost both in terms of time and money. But without roads, it takes longer time for goods and people to reach their destination hence increase cost on fares as well as speed up the wear and tear of vehicles. Delays due to bad roads therefore lead to commodities getting spoilt or vehicles experiencing breakdowns hence slow the economy. Roads therefore significantly reduce cost and at the same time enhance efficiency, productivity and prolong the life of vehicles and commodities.
In light of the above, Pres. Barrow would tremendously push the wheel of development in the Gambia if he makes electricity and roads his number one priority. With stern dedication and strategic leadership, Barrow could transform this country within one year if he focuses on only roads and electricity. Here is what he needs to do.
Now that the Gambia has diplomatic relations with China, it is necessary and urgent that Barrow leads a high powered Government delegation on a state visit to China. In his bag he needs only two proposals to put before the Chinese leaders. That is, building of the necessary nationwide infrastructure for electricity supply and roads networks. Furthermore he needs to demand renewal energy focusing on solar and wind power. China has the means and capacity to address the Gambia’s energy and roads infrastructural needs within a second.
Therefore while the China honeymoon is ongoing, let Barrow hit the iron when it is hot. The Gambia with its land size and population is equivalent just a small city in China. Hence the volume of electricity and roads infrastructure this country needs is a minimal investment for China. Barrow must address this matter with urgency because the current electricity and roads situation in the Gambia is definitely a threat to national security as well as undermining his government and leadership.
In the event that the China option fails or partially succeeds, Barrow must ensure that the Gambia takes no loans other than loans earmarked for building the country’s energy and roads infrastructure.
In 1965, Ghana under Kwame Nkrumah took the bold and unpalatable decision to take a massive loan to build Akosombo Dam back then. Most people especially the opposition immediately attacked Nkrumah for being crazy to enter into a loan agreement that was clearly unfavorable to Ghana in the short to medium term. But Nkrumah responded that ultimately it is energy that will determine which nations meet the needs and aspirations of their people or not. Since then, history has proven Nkrumah to be correct, as it is that same dam that continues to propel Ghana to success!
Therefore let Barrow refuse loans that go to budget support, food production, education or health among others. Such loans do not produce any profit for the country so long as the road and electricity infrastructure is abysmal. Since independence the Gambia has taken so much loans for those areas yet our public health or education or food security situation remains dire, mainly because of poor roads network and electricity supply. To continue to follow the same trend will only serve to further entrench this country in the highly debted poor country category. The Gambia neither need nor deserve such a status.
Therefore let the Barrow Administration cut its coat according to its size and depend on locally generated resources and grants to address social services such as education, health, food and community development issues. But loans must only be taken to cater for electricity and roads infrastructural development.
With roads and electricity infrastructure fully developed, all other aspects of our society and economy will grow. What is holding back the Gambia is mainly because of lack of adequate electricity that is affordable and available to all, and poor roads network across the country and within the Greeter Banjul Area.
Currently this country has only three roads that connect Banjul to the rest of the country. These are the Bertil Harding Highway leading to Brusubi, Sayerr Jobe Avenue leading to Sukuta and Mamady Maniyang Highway leading to Tabokoto. Consequently, every day, morning and evening these roads are jampacked even though the Gambia does not have that many cars. We need superhighways and well-paved avenues and streets within our cities and towns to allow the free flow of traffic, which is a sine qua non for social and economic development.
If Barrow wishes to cement his legacy as the president who transformed the Gambia from a poor hapless country to an advanced society, let him focus only on electricity and roads infrastructural development. With that infrastructure, he would have created the enabling environment for the development of all sectors of our lives, society and economy hence national development.
God Bless The Gambia
Madi the hard fact which
Most gambians the hate the jammeh regime is that has done the lions work on infrastructure.
Which infrast will the Barrow government take credit of?
Lamin koto pasaamas signed during jammeh, schools ,hospitals, Utg campus signed, transgambia bridge, barra to janjbureh including the sofa nyama bridge, kartong to koina
Serekund to Jambanjelly, Sanyang brufut
Electricty infras in all regions including rural electrification
The hard fact is in the comming 5 years all commission infrac projects would be Jammeh true lagacy including the most recent OIC conference hall. Not pipeline project but approved and signed by his government ready to take off.
Opponent say he had bad governance but with Jammeh the Gambias key development parameters( social & economic infras have been fixed).Any other gov will only maitain or adjust. LITTLE thanks is due to ceasar for his contributions to human kind( gambia 22 years ago and now. Frank reflections !
Buba gargantuan Camara, the Kombo coastal roads & other road networks were signed already during the old Republic with some secured Kuwaiti funds; then Sadam of Iraq invaded & annexed Kuwait before the funding got effected…
Kuwait got liberated after western intervention but had to put up some funding themselves towards the heavy costs of their liberation by the Western allied forces…
Then again tragedy struck in Kuwait when some lives perished in plane crash, if my memory serves well….
Then the evil kanilai killer fiefdom sent official letter of condolences which every government of the day would’ve done in the instance as protocol requires….
That’s how the funds got released by Kuwait for the evil kanilai killer devil’s devour & squander in pretences of so-called lukewarm development which would’ve been used better & projects executed properly as required, had a real dedicated Gambia national had been in charge at the time…
The evil kanilai fiefdom sycophantic disciplines can shout all you want; that won’t change anything in the truth…
Rectification please – Buba gargantuan eater Camara – I meant to say; thank you…
Easily fabricated stories just becos yu dont want to see any thing good in the Jammeh regime. Pipline projects that took 30 yrs? Bizarr and cheap blackmailing.
By the way yur hatred in left to yu but even the blind can feel the tremendous achievements in infras and again human resources.
Some hurting figures : 95% og the current work force in the gambia public and private have been trained by his regime ( over 25000 BSc holders, 12000 MSC and 500_900PHd.
98% of the medical personnels manning the health of the Gambia incling yuor very self
Give me yurs in 30 years and the current which is inherit the left over of Jammeh.
Ego is s cult and make yur hate yurself . Go to jupitar so yu will never feel the impact of jammeh else till judjement day, his impact will shower in the Gambia. So long as his UTG is on
Little thanks is needed bro. The heart hatred will only increase yur heart health but can,t erase his legacy
Decrease yur heart health so to write
Those who lived through the various Republics knows what I’m saying are the facts…
However a rock can’t absorb water no matter how much one tries…
You can go & bring yaya Jammeh back to Gambia to continue the so-called development probably in mile 2 perhaps, if the evil kanilai killer devil can survive long in there… The Gambia is moving ahead regardless …
Here is a simple math Mr President.
No electricity = DARKNESS
No roads = No movement of goods = POVERTY
No electricity + No roads = DARKNESS + POVERTY = SUFFERING.
Even the blind can see that now, Won’t you say.
God Bless The Gambia.
Well said doc. But those who think they own this government won’t like to hear anything negative about the current Adminstrstion.
Buba Camara, since your seem to give Jammeh credit for all the coming projects in the next five years, I wonder if you will happily blame him for the current energy crises and the dire economic situation of the nation as these were also inherited from him????
Always Madi. If the Barrow administration takes heed of your advise, he shall be remembered as one of the best leaders just as an example you give of Dr.Kwame Krummah. President Jammeh started well earlier being on right track but fear was the order of the day at the end.
“Therefore let Barrow refuse loans that go to budget support, food production, education or health among others. Such loans do not produce any profit for the country so long as the road and electricity infrastructure is abysmal”
As a development practioner, I respectfully disagree with you on this. Infrastructural development such as electricity and roads are certainly key drivers of economic growth in a country.
However, nothing equates the private or public return on investment in social projects such as agriculture, education, and health. These three sectors are very much intertwined and they are like a three-legged stool on which the sustainable development of every country sits. Take one away and your national development crumbles woefully. Read any neo-liberal development paradigm and you’ll see agriculture, education, and health heavily emphasized. I agree with most of your argument but thought you need to revisit this piece.