Lawyer and politician Lamin J. Darboe has laid out his vision for a more accountable and people-centered government as he seeks his party’s flagbearer nomination, pledging to tackle corruption and prioritise education and healthcare in The Gambia.
In a wide-ranging interview, Darboe described the country’s stagnation as the product of widespread misuse of public resources and systemic corruption. He argued that millions of dalasi are siphoned off each year while schools struggle without basic materials and hospitals face critical shortages of medication.
“We can provide medication if we manage the national resources very well,” Darboe said, stressing that quality education and healthcare should be accessible to every Gambian child regardless of background.
Drawing comparisons with the United Kingdom, Darboe said he wants to see a Gambia where ordinary citizens enjoy the same standard of services as those at the top of government. “We want to ensure that in times of health whatever the president has, we have it,” he said. “Schools that the president’s children have, everybody should have it. You can be in my community in Gunjur and have a school with good quality like Marina International; the government can do that, and that’s what is happening in the United Kingdom.”
Darboe explained that his move into politics was driven by frustration with the corruption and neglect of public facilities he has witnessed. “The riches of this country have been stolen by very few people,” he said. “Public facilities are rotting all over the country, and because of these reasons, people like me are in politics.”
Reflecting on the 2021 flagbearer selection process, Darboe criticised what he described as an unfair system after he was not granted an interview. Only one of four applicants was chosen, which he said undermined internal party democracy.
“Everybody who is in the party should enjoy the same rights, the same privilege, and responsibilities; there should be no discrimination,” he argued.
Darboe concluded by warning that political parties unwilling to govern themselves fairly will struggle to lead the nation if entrusted with power. For him, the fight against corruption and the commitment to fairness are not only campaign promises but the foundation for building a more equitable Gambia.
