By: Fatou Dahaba
Bakary Y. Badgie, National Assembly Member for Foni Bintang and an aspiring presidential candidate, on Friday outlined a platform centered on fighting corruption and empowering young people as he addressed journalists at a press conference held at his campaign office.
Badgie said his political message would rest on listening to ordinary Gambians, strengthening public institutions, and ensuring state resources serve the national interest rather than private gain. “Public office is not a business,” he declared, stressing that leadership must be guided by honesty, integrity, and genuine service to the people. He argued that corruption and weak governance have denied many citizens opportunities, and that the country needs a new generation of leaders firmly committed to accountability.
If elected, one of his first priorities would be to treat audit reports with seriousness and ensure they are acted upon. Public officials implicated in corruption cases would face the full force of the law, he said, regardless of political affiliation or personal ties to the president. Badgie also called for stronger national institutions, noting that weak systems have eroded public confidence and hampered effective service delivery. State bodies, he insisted, must be staffed and led by individuals dedicated to integrity and the proper management of public funds.
On security, the Foni Bintang lawmaker emphasized that protecting lives and property remains a core duty of government. Addressing concerns about violence and attacks involving young people, he said the law must be applied without fear or favor, with justice dispensed equally to all.
Badgie linked the problem of irregular migration to a widespread sense of hopelessness among the youth. Many young Gambians leave the country, he observed, because they see few viable opportunities at home. To reverse this trend, he proposed expanding youth empowerment programs, including easier access to loans for young people with viable business ideas and greater support for skills training and development.
He also voiced strong support for increased opportunities for women and young people to take part in national development and decision-making processes.
Reaffirming his intention to contest the upcoming presidential election, Badgie said he remains committed to offering himself to Gambians as a candidate for national leadership. His next step, he announced, will be a nationwide “listening tour” stretching from Banjul to communities across the provinces. The tour, he explained, will allow him to hear directly from citizens about their concerns and expectations before finalizing policy positions.
Badgie’s remarks signal a campaign focused on institutional reform, youth opportunity, and a clear rejection of the idea that public office can be treated as a personal enterprise.
