United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Ousainou Darboe has pledged to undertake a major restructuring of government, including reducing the size of the cabinet, merging ministries and cutting expenditure at the highest levels of the state if his party wins power.
Speaking Tuesday morning during an interview with journalist Peter Gomez on West Coast Radio, Darboe argued that The Gambia, given its relatively small size and population, does not need a large or expensive executive structure.
The veteran politician said a leaner government would help reduce public expenditure while allowing competent civil servants to take on a greater role in the administration of the country.
Darboe questioned the need for separate ministries overseeing closely related sectors, suggesting that several portfolios could be consolidated.
“I believe there should be one Ministry of Education,” Darboe said, arguing that a small country such as The Gambia does not require multiple ministries responsible for different levels of education.
He also proposed merging the ministries responsible for Water Resources, Environment, Fisheries and Natural Resources into a single ministry.
On the growing digital economy, Darboe said he would not maintain a standalone ministry. Instead, he proposed establishing a Directorate of Digital Economy within the Ministry of Finance.
According to the UDP leader, such reforms would reduce the number of political appointments and, consequently, the salaries and allowances associated with ministerial positions.
“I think that is where we can reduce the size of the government, government expenditure, and the salaries of ministers,” he said.
Darboe also turned his attention to spending associated with the presidency, promising to review executive compensation and other expenses if elected.
He said he would seek legal advice on his own salary arrangements upon assuming office, signalling that he would be prepared to reconsider existing provisions governing presidential remuneration.
A more significant change, however, would involve the presidential household budget.
Darboe argued that expenses relating to the president’s family should no longer be borne by taxpayers, noting that ordinary civil servants and government ministers generally meet their household expenses from their personal incomes.
“The president’s household budget should be taken off the state,” he stressed.
The proposed reforms form part of Darboe’s broader argument for a smaller and more financially disciplined government. He maintained that reducing the political executive while strengthening the professional civil service could help the government make more efficient use of public resources.
The proposals come as political parties prepare for the December 2026 presidential election, in which Darboe is expected to challenge President Adama Barrow.
If implemented, the proposed restructuring would represent a significant change in the organisation of Gambia’s executive branch, particularly in relation to the number of ministries, presidential spending and the cost of political appointments.
