Opinion: Nation at a Crossroads

What does the future hold for The Gambia? Where are we going from here? Salifu Manneh reflects on the state of our nation.

By Salifu Manneh

Once known proudly as the "Smiling Coast of West Africa," The Gambia has transformed beyond recognition—into the weeping, suffering, and weakened coast of West Africa. Multiple factors may be responsible for this dramatic decline: the deterioration of our health sector, the economy, our social fabric, and a widening gap between the government and its people. Compassion is scarce. Empathy is in short supply. We are in a sorry, abysmal, and seemingly hopeless state.

Gambian President H.E Adama Barrow with his Caninet Ministers at State House

What caused this? I do not claim to have all the answers. But through a reflexive approach, perhaps we can start to understand the depth of the rot. You, the reader, may also have insights—together, we might begin to piece together the truth.

The legacies of dictatorship, the global fallout from COVID-19, and the failed leadership of the Barrow administration—coupled with the corruption exposed by the Janneh Commission and numerous government reports—have all contributed to:

1. An Economy in Limbo

The cost of living continues to soar, leaving the poor hungrier, poorer, and increasingly vulnerable to illness. Our economic framework is broken.

2. A Healthcare System on Life Support

We face a severe shortage of specialist doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and healthcare workers. Diagnostic tools are lacking. Mental health services fail to meet the emotional and psychological needs of our people. Our youth are at risk. The stakes are simply too high for inaction.

3. A Dysfunctional Judiciary

Our legal system is bureaucratic, weak, and unresponsive. There is no real momentum toward creating a fair, transparent, and functional justice system. Until we bridge the gaps in the judiciary, justice for all—and justice delivered on time—will remain a distant dream. A country without a high-functioning judiciary is vulnerable to ethical, moral, and legal collapse. Where are our educated, principled legal minds? The country needs your leadership to reform the legal system and limit unchecked executive power.

4. A Collapsing Agricultural Sector

Agriculture once employed more Gambians than any other sector. The phrase “agriculture is the backbone of our economy” now rings hollow. Poor agricultural output means poor nutrition and worsening public health. Where are the Jahal Pacharr rice fields? The cotton mills in Basse? The tractors once promised for food security? Fertilizer is scarce, and payments to groundnut farmers are delayed. Our government has lost its vision, and the nation is stagnant.

5. Where Is the Revenue Going?

What has happened to the revenue generated from our seaport, airport, ferries, immigration services, national IDs, passports, fisheries, vehicle taxes, income tax? The Gambia Revenue Authority reports earnings annually, yet we see no tangible improvements. Where is the money?

6. An Ailing Education System

Our schools are failing. In 2024, 18,042 candidates sat the WASSCE exams; only 8.2%—about 1,480 students—achieved credit passes in Maths and English. That leaves over 16,000 students behind. Alarmingly, 870 students received ungraded results—an utter system failure. 28 students’ results were withheld due to exam malpractice. Big shame for our country. And yet, no one was held accountable.

We must critically examine these results, identify root causes, and bring stakeholders—families, communities, diaspora partners—together to reinvest in our schools. Improve teacher pay and welfare, particularly in rural areas. Enforce regulatory standards. Deregister persistently failing schools. Ban afternoon classes; students and teachers are exhausted, hungry, and often unsafe commuting home late. Afternoon sessions, without adequate support, only make things worse.

Let us cut spending on foreign service, reduce unnecessary vehicle purchases, and reallocate those funds to our schools and hospitals.

7. The Education Crisis is Deepening

Our education system—already plagued by underpaid teachers, poor infrastructure, and long commutes—is becoming increasingly inaccessible to poorer families. Children travel far on empty stomachs, return home hungry, and often find nothing to eat. How can students in such dire conditions perform well? Encourage technical training and apprenticeships for students who fall out of the education system.

Reintroduce school feeding programs. Public schools should provide breakfast and lunch to those in need. Private schools must be required to do the same.

8. Curbing Wasteful Spending

Our embassies are draining scarce national resources. Shut down all but a few: retain only one for the US, UK (for Europe), China, Russia, and Nigeria (for Africa). Ban new government vehicle purchases for five years. Eliminate all foreign travel for public officials and replace it with online meetings. Appoint diaspora representatives to conduct foreign affairs without pay. Channel all savings into health and education. Within one year, we will see real progress.

A National Call to Action

We must come together as a people and face the truth. We know our problems: failed leadership, a dysfunctional judiciary, and a lack of vision. We can and must do better.

We do not deserve this decline. We have the intellect, energy, and resources to rebuild. But we must act—not tomorrow, not next year, but now.

Editor's note: The opinions expressed here belong to the author and may not reflect the perspectives of Gunjuronline.com.

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