By Baboucarr Nyang
Activist
The Gambian Government’s outright dismissal of the Afrobarometer survey is not only a missed opportunity but also a dangerous precedent for governance. Instead of engaging with the findings in a constructive manner, the government has chosen to attack the credibility of an independent research institution that has, for decades, conducted similar surveys across Africa with methodological rigor.
Surveys Reflect Public Perception, Not Government Opinion
The fundamental flaw in the government’s response is its failure to understand that public perception surveys do not assess government performance based on internal reports or official claims. Instead, they gauge how ordinary citizens feel about governance, institutions, and service delivery. Dismissing the survey outright simply because it does not align with the government’s narrative only widens the gap between the state and its citizens.
Governments that respect democracy, transparency, and accountability use such surveys to identify gaps in service delivery and governance. They do not demand that their “input” be sought before findings are released, as doing so would compromise the independence of the survey. Afrobarometer’s research methodology is widely respected, and its findings in other African countries have been used to drive policy reforms rather than provoke defensive denials.
Governments That Use Surveys to Improve Governance
Several countries recognize the importance of perception surveys and use them to strengthen governance:
1. Rwanda – The government regularly conducts perception surveys to assess corruption and service delivery. The Rwanda Governance Scorecard, for example, is used to improve institutional performance and transparency.
2. South Africa – Public confidence surveys influence policy decisions, particularly in policing and governance. The government uses citizen feedback to improve law enforcement strategies and accountability.
3. Kenya – The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission conducts periodic corruption perception surveys that help shape anti-corruption policies and enhance public accountability.
4. Ghana – One of the most democratic countries in Africa, Ghana takes Afrobarometer surveys seriously and uses them to guide electoral reforms and improve institutional integrity.
Instead of rejecting the survey’s findings, The Gambia could take a lesson from these countries and use the report to drive meaningful reforms.
Why the Government’s Response is Misguided
1. Confusing Perception with Reality – The government argues that court filings have increased, which supposedly contradicts the finding that people do not feel they can obtain justice. This reasoning is flawed. More court cases do not necessarily mean greater trust in the judiciary; they could simply reflect an increase in disputes, legal activism, or other factors. What matters is whether people feel that the judiciary is fair and accessible.
2. Claiming Bias Without Evidence – The government repeatedly accuses Afrobarometer of being “deliberately misleading” or “selectively negative” but provides no proof. If Afrobarometer’s findings were completely false, why do similar patterns emerge in other African countries? The reality is that Afrobarometer applies the same methodology everywhere, and rejecting its findings only isolates The Gambia from the larger governance discourse on the continent.
3. If Institutional Reforms Alone Improve Perceptions – The government lists various anti-corruption initiatives, such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Janneh Commission. While these are commendable, their existence does not automatically translate into improved public trust. If citizens still perceive corruption to be rampant, the issue is not the survey but the government’s failure to convince the public that real change is happening.
4. Attacking Afrobarometer Instead of Engaging Constructively – The government’s statement suggests that surveys should first consult with the institutions they evaluate. This is absurd and undermines the independence of research. Surveys are not government propaganda tools; they are meant to assess citizen sentiment without state interference.
A Better Approach for The Gambia
If the Barrow administration is serious about governance and public accountability, it should use the survey results to:
– Identify areas where public trust is low and engage in corrective measures.
– Improve communication with citizens to address misinformation or misunderstandings about institutional roles.
– Strengthen anti-corruption mechanisms in ways that not only punish wrongdoing but also restore public confidence.
– Avoid defensive reactions and instead see perception surveys as tools for governance improvement.
Governments that dismiss independent research and attack its credibility risk losing legitimacy in the eyes of their own people. The Gambia should take a more mature and pragmatic approach—using the Afrobarometer survey as a governance barometer rather than a political threat. The people’s perception is the reality governments must work with, not what they believe should be the reality.
