The Brussels Donors Conference on the Gambia, the European Union recorded Euro 1.45 billion in PLEDGES at the Donors Conference for the next three years. The European Union will be contributing Euro 140 million in grants, in addition to the Euro 225 million already committed.
The European Union fully supports the eight priority areas identified in the Development Plan. Further actions will focus in the support of the governance through the support of democratic reforms; in agriculture, promoting job creation for Gambian youth and in the energy sector, granting access to renewable and sustainable energy.
I’m always aware of the international community’s experiences with the Gambia and look at the Gambian issues or the reports coming out of the international think tanks linking and seeing Gambia as a typical African basket-case still among “the poorest countries in Africa.” We know the country has a lot to offer, so if the country is sick, then all Gambians feel sick and perhaps President Adama Barrow could fix this situation, provided he listens to the socio-political demands of the people.
The cautionary note by the Bretton Woods Institution that Gambia’s debt burden is hurtling towards untenable levels is not good news to taxpayers. In the wake of the 225 million Euros funding, questions have emerged about the government’s spending, which critics see as overly ambitious. But the Ministry of Finance is certain these debts will be paid. Ideally, taxpayers worries aren’t so much about what President Barrow’s government plans to do with the Eurobond money, but the shortage that official corruption has been leaving in the public purse every day.
Ordinary Gambians know that their money, in hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions, are lining the pockets of individuals who use their influence to defeat the system. That corruption is a painful ritual in our country can’t be overemphasized. Under the tactical alliance government of President Barrow, the war on corruption has not been enthusiastically dealt with because the vice is deeply rooted, and therefore the success has been more elusive.
If you’ve booked your ticket to the Gambia, don’t cancel it. You’ll still love the country and its people, and if you experience the ugly side, then welcome to the Smiling Coast of the Gambia, the “Land of No Problems.”
We have some housekeeping that needs a revolution to combat the cankerworm in the Gambia, which is corruption and racketeering. People, start mobilizing and organizing for long-term changes and the total reconstruction of a national consciousness. Don’t get stuck on who the next president will be.
Ordinary Gambians know that their money, in hundreds of thousands and perhaps millions, are lining the pockets of individuals who use their influence to defeat the system. That corruption is a painful ritual in our country can’t be overemphasized. Under the tactical alliance government of President Barrow, the war on corruption has not been enthusiastically dealt with because the vice is deeply rooted, and therefore the success has been more elusive.
The police steal from the people, and the people steal from each other. The politicians rob the treasury, and the powerful feed off the inherited wealth stolen from the public. There are no laws like the Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act or The Ethics and Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act in place to combat corruption in Gambia. The president and his government are not interested in fighting corruption and so he’s useless in these matters.
The national debt was $ 1.9 billion as of 2017, and $349 million is owed to multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and the African Development Bank, whereas $112 million is owed to other governments and an additional $6 million is owed to private creditors, excluding the Chinese loans.
This year, Gambia ranked 130 out of 180 in the world corruption index. This is a marginal improvement because, in 2016, Gambia was 145 out of 180 countries. More needs to be done. Every Gambian has a responsibility to fight graft. However, without the political will, all anti-graft efforts will get lost in the political din. Gambians can recall the political heat that resulted after a list of corruption suspects were reported daily on the press as well on social media. Corrupted networks fought back, and this news became fodder for unhealthy exchanges.
The police steal from the people, and the people steal from each other. The politicians rob the treasury, and the powerful feed off the inherited wealth stolen from the public. There are no laws like the Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act or The Ethics and Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act in place to combat corruption in Gambia. The president and his government are not interested in fighting corruption and so he’s useless in these matters.
President Barrow should be resolute in his crusade against graft. Gambians can’t wait to see the day the graft lords are hauled to court in broad daylight. No one should be allowed to enjoy the proceeds of graft without painfully paying for them. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the National Assembly must fight and disavow the perception that they exist to work at the behest of shadowy forces. The Barrow administration should not be seen as shying from tough retributive measures against graft. By condoning them, we are set up for failure.
Success stories are told globally that combat the cankerworm of corruption through implementation of legal framework such as the Crime and Anti-Money Laundering Act and The Ethics and Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act. The Gambian people demand and appreciate the recovery of corruptly acquired assets as big deterrents to corruption. Despite numerous challenges, the government of President Barrow has no intention to legislate a new Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act.
Most countries that have enacted such laws have made considerable progress towards attracting local and global attention. Much can be achieved when all Gambians stand up against corruption and guard against the plundering of public resources meant to benefit them and future generations.
Corruption affects people’s daily lives, from poor roads to unequal access to healthcare and medicine, crimes and violence in our communities and across borders, and political choices distorted by money and greed. It is therefore the duty of every Gambian to join the fight against corruption now.
“It is therefore the duty of every Gambian to join the fight against corruption now.”
How and where does one join?
Alagi Yorro Jallow,
Sometimes I don’t take you seriously in your quest to see a just society in the Gambia. Instead of working to flush a CORRUPT, CORRUPTIBLE, TRIBALIST, INFLUENCE-PEDDLING and INCOMPETENT person out of office, you still cling onto advising him to do things better, or may I say WORSE.
This man is already in the ship of GRAFT and CORRUPTION, a person akin to using public property for personal use. Haven’t you seen (not read) as evidence all the GRAFT he has been involved in since he took office in January 2017? If you haven’t seen the material evidences, then STOP writing BUNKUMS. Because you are a living testimony of the bad things presently taking place in our country. You are there and fully well know if things are running to the expectations of our people. AFTER 1.5 USELESS and DYSFUNCTIONAL YEARS IN OFFICE!
How many people did he take on the delegation to this “pledge” conference with intending donors? Why all those people? How did they fly to Brussels? On first class or economy class? These and several trends of GRAFT (though trivial to his stooges and opportunists, and unknown to the layman) are always present while our poor masses continue to suffer from shortages of water/electricity, exorbitant prices of basic commodities(especially in this Holy month of Ramadan), high bills on education, rising crime rates, pending farmers’ money from the trade season, the useless First/Second Ladies’ Office, the useless Think Tank, the useless Ambassadors-at-large, the useless numerous Presidential Advisers….the large list of bogus and money siphoning venues continues.
When will GRAFT stop with these CORRUPT people? NEVER.
Why all these forms of bourgeoisie diplomatic nicesities that will only drain our meagre resources? Why all these big HAFTANS, SUIT , high hotel bills, travelling costs and per diem emoluments that will continue to drain our resources?
Babu Soli woo babu Soli i don’t need to say much but you definitely need a phycological doctor to help you before you commit Suicide
Baba,
Are you intelligent? Or a glorified FOOL?
Grim reaper, Jollofnews 25th May 2018
Join the crusade by writing on-line exposing and condemning the most minute corruptible act. Give names and instances.
They read the on-line reports. They don’t fear corruption and corruptible behaviours, they don’t fear their Creator, The Almighty Allah (SWT) who hates CORRUPTION, they don’t care about their citizenry, BUT they care a lot about their names.
CORRUPTION “eats” the very fabric of our society, the essence of our being as humans. CORRUPTION leaves us unschooled (illiterate), naked (unclothed), ill, hungry, jealous, wild as beasts, destitute. It’s the EVIL of all EVILS.
It’s always perpetrated by a handful of very SELFISH people from the top and runs down the echelon of the civil service to the last employee. While the innocent poor just cross their arms. What do they steal? Our collective OSUSU(public funds/properties). Never allow it, Grim reaper.
This corruption Index, must have a list of names or some sort of proof/data/evidence that is used to compile the statistics for The Gambia to be ranked in it’s current position,
Couldn’t someone make a request for the data on the grounds of research? How do they really get the evidence?
Babu Soli very sad that you are loosing your consence because of yourFilthy words and hatred against your fellow gambia has no boundry, go look for a better life rather than arguing and exchanging Salty words with decent people.