By Fatou Dahaba
The latest Afrobarometer survey, conducted by the Center for Research and Policy Development (CRPD), reveals that Gambian citizens are increasingly concerned about health, the rising cost of living, and crime/security and are urging the government to prioritize these issues.
The 2024 survey highlights that 55% of Gambians identify health-related issues as needing urgent attention, a significant increase from 33% in 2018. This underscores health as a critical concern requiring government intervention.
Additionally, the survey indicates growing dissatisfaction with the country’s economic situation. 45% of respondents are concerned about the rising cost of living, while 34% have expressed the need for action on crime, up from 14% in 2018.
The survey also reveals that more than three-fourths (77%) of Gambians feel the country is moving in the ‘wrong direction,’ marking a substantial increase of 48 percentage points since 2018. These findings highlight a pressing call for government action to address these pivotal issues.
According to the survey, only about 19% of Gambians describe the nation’s economic condition as “fairly good” or “very good,” marking a steep 39-point decline from 58% in 2018. This reflects a growing dissatisfaction with the economic situation, prompting calls for swift government intervention.
The survey further reveals widespread disapproval of leadership performance. 62% of respondents disapprove of the president’s performance, 65% are dissatisfied with members of Parliament, and 60% disapprove of local government councilors’ performance over the past year.
Additionally, 68% of citizens believe that peace and security in the country have deteriorated.
Despite these challenges, the survey acknowledges that most respondents recognize improvements under President Barrow’s administration in areas such as freedom of speech, youth participation in politics, women’s participation in politics, respect for human rights, and preserving law and order.
Sait Matty Jaw, Project Director at CRPD, emphasized the importance of the Afrobarometer survey, noting its role in shaping citizens’ perceptions of governance issues and ensuring their well-informedness.
He emphasized journalists’ vital role in clarifying issues Gambians raised in the survey. He suggested that journalists can further explain these concerns by engaging with experts, thereby providing deeper insights for the public.
Mariam Davis, CRPD’s Program Officer, recognized journalists’ contributions to simplifying survey findings so that they are easily understandable by the public. She noted that informed citizens are better equipped to make informed choices.
