By: Momodou S. Gagigo
President Adama Barrow on Thursday evening brought his constitutionally mandated “Meet the People Tour” to a triumphant close in the capital, Banjul, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive development while fielding direct appeals from residents on roads, security, women’s empowerment, and environmental protection.
Hundreds packed the final rally as speakers from across Banjul’s political and social spectrum praised Barrow’s achievements yet pressed for urgent action on lingering challenges.
Sheikh Cham, representing the APRC coalition, spotlighted the crumbling road linking Banjul City Port to Bornroad, describing it as a daily hardship for commuters and traders. “We appeal to the government to address this critical issue affecting our daily lives,” Cham told the President.
Women’s representative Isatou Njie hailed Barrow as a “champion of democracy” and thanked him for existing empowerment programmes, but made an impassioned plea for a D10 million grant-based endowment fund for Banjul’s four constituencies. “We are asking for grants, not loans, to tackle poverty and boost skill integration,” she said, adding that combating gender-based violence remains a top priority. Njie pledged the women’s “immense support” ahead of the 2026 elections.
Business leader Momodou Boyi Jallow urged stronger market security through surveillance cameras and night patrols while calling for VAT reductions. “The cost of transportation is suffocating our profits,” he stressed, reciting lines from the national pledge to underline civic duty.
Deputy Mayor Abdou Aziz Dabah Guye aligned the Banjul City Council (BCC) with Barrow’s vision, citing ongoing road works and a youth cleaning initiative that has created jobs. He nevertheless reminded the central government that road maintenance ultimately falls under its remit and commended progress on the new KG Stadium.
Environmental concerns surfaced when Executive Coordinator Ebrima Jawo praised drainage improvements but also appealed to the Ministry of Environment to preserve mangroves and wetlands.
Land and Religious Affairs Minister, Hamat N.K. Bah delivered a robust defence of the administration, declaring that “no country as poor as The Gambia” has built so many schools, extended agricultural support, and established women’s gardens. “Banjul should be a role model,” he said, urging citizens to reject “fake aspirants with nothing to offer” in 2026.
In response, President Barrow, a Banjul native, detailed D3.2 billion already invested in roads nationwide and announced upcoming projects including fishermen’s stores, a fish processing centre, cold storage, and waste treatment facilities for the capital. While declining to decentralise funding exclusively to Banjul, he promised equitable development, saying: “Everything about Banjul, I know. It’s my mandate to bring development.”
Quoting the maxim “Education without wisdom is nothing,” Barrow stressed humility and active listening. “I’m the driver, all others are my apprentices,” he declared, vowing to remain “down-to-earth and loving the people I rule.”
The 2025 tour, required under Section 101 of the 1997 Constitution, spanned 19 public meetings and 26 project site visits, with heavy emphasis on agriculture, education, and youth empowerment across all regions.
