Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally has taken a hard swing at critics of President Adama Barrow’s government, dismissing them as “jobless, retired, or UN-sacked individuals” who add nothing to national progress. His remarks came on Saturday during a joint meeting in Sifoe Village as part of the President’s ongoing Meet the People Tour.
Speaking to supporters, Sabally said the loudest voices on local radio are painting a picture that does not reflect what the presidential delegation has been hearing on the ground. He argued that the warm reception and positive comments from communities across the country stand in sharp contrast to what he called the negativity coming from “radio-station critics.”
According to the Minister, those commentators are disconnected from daily realities and are fixated on portraying the administration as corrupt without offering evidence. He insisted that the accounts shared by rural Gambians tell a different story.
Sabally also pointed to food security as an area where the government believes it is making visible progress. He told the gathering that a standard bag of rice now costs about D1,700 and described the price as unprecedented compared to markets elsewhere in West Africa. He suggested that the current level is a sign of stability and a result of government efforts to keep staple food affordable.
His remarks come as the administration faces persistent allegations of corruption from opposition figures and civil society voices. The Minister’s response signals a deliberate push to shift public attention toward what the government sees as its achievements, particularly on issues that affect households daily.
The Meet the People Tour continues this week, with more stops planned across the country as President Barrow and his cabinet seek to defend their record and counter growing criticism.
