Economist and political analyst Musa Basad Jawara has opined that there are all indications that the ruling NPP will be re-elected in the next presidential election.
“The Gambia stands at a critical crossroads. Years of misrule have left the country mired in corruption, poverty, and underdevelopment. All indications are that the ruling National People’s Party, led by the incumbent president, will win the 2026 presidential elections, barring a major upset. The opposition parties are in disarray and seem utterly incompetent to defeat the ruling party,” Jawara, a former official of the US State Department, stated in a write-up titled The Gambia Deserves Better.
According to him, the urgency of the Gambian situation cannot be overstated.
“Rampant corruption, poverty, disease, and chaos are just a few of the many challenges facing the nation. The lack of medical care, good healthcare, and transparency are all embedded in this government’s problems,” added Jawara.
To him, it’s virtually late to pose a formidable challenge to the NPP, but said a glimmer of hope exists through a coalition of the willing.
“It is almost too late to mount an effective campaign to challenge the ruling party from power. However, there is still a narrow window of opportunity to call on the willing to come together, organize, and wage a national campaign to defeat them,” he pointed out.
Jawara opined that coalition building is not the job of the UDP and its allied parties.
“The main opposition party, UDP, and its sister political parties will not do the job because they have already failed. They have tried several elections and failed, and this coming election will not be any different. A new approach is needed, one that brings together a coalition of willing parties and individuals who are committed to change,” he maintained.
Jawara, a former official of the Gambia’s Ministry of Trade and Employment under the PPP administration, lamented that the government’s decision to privatize the telecom sector calls for Gambians to be proactive before their country goes to the dogs.
“The recent decision to privatize the telecommunication industry has highlighted the gravity of the situation. The country’s most strategic and productive assets are being sold off to outsiders, leaving The Gambia vulnerable and stripped of its key resources. This is not an isolated incident, but part of a larger pattern of privatization that has already seen the port authority and other major national assets sold off. The people of The Gambia cannot afford to stand idly by while their country is being dismantled,” stated Jawara, a Japan-trained and US-matriculated economist.
“The Gambia deserves better. We deserve a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of its citizens. We deserve economic policies that are productive and popular, and that will help stimulate growth and create jobs. We deserve a government that will invest in our future, prioritize universal healthcare, improve agriculture, and move towards industrialization. We deserve a government that will generate a productive base for our people, create employment opportunities, and reduce poverty,” he emphasized.
“The time for change is now. We call on all Gambians who are committed to a united, prosperous, and transparent future to join us in this campaign. Together, we can build a better Gambia for all. The Gambia deserves better, and we will fight for it,” he concluded.
