By: Alieu Lowe, (Economist & Public Policy Analyst)
Nearly a decade after the fall of Yahya Jammeh’s dictatorship, The Gambia remains trapped in a cycle of underperformance and unfulfilled potential. While the transition to democratic rule was widely celebrated, successive administrations have struggled to convert political change into real socio-economic progress. Today, the country faces growing public frustration over rising living costs, lack of employment opportunities, institutional inefficiencies, and widening inequality. The root of the problem is not a lack of resources or goodwill but a persistent failure of leadership to plan, prioritise, and deliver.
Youth unemployment is among the most urgent challenges, now exceeding 38%, in a country where over 60% of the population is under 25. Despite this demographic weight, there is no comprehensive national strategy to create jobs, develop skills, or support entrepreneurship. Over one-third of Gambians aged 15–24 are not in education, employment or training (NEET), placing an entire generation at risk of exclusion. The absence of serious investment in youth-focused economic policy exposes a leadership that is reactive rather than visionary, content to manage crises instead of preventing them.
The economic picture, though stable on the surface, is deeply fragile. Projected GDP growth of 5.6% in 2025 is offset by inflation above 11% and a public debt burden at 67% of GDP. Worse still, remittances account for over 22% of GDP, making The Gambia one of the most remittance-dependent countries in the world. This reliance reflects an economy struggling to generate internal momentum. Rather than investing in sectors like agro-processing, light manufacturing or tourism, national development remains heavily donor-driven and externally sustained.
Corruption continues to undermine governance and public confidence. Ranked 96th out of 180 on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, The Gambia’s credibility is weakened by poor enforcement, selective accountability, and a lack of transparency in key processes including the controversial disposal of former President Jammeh’s seized assets. Institutions mandated to protect public interest are either under-resourced or politically constrained. For any meaningful reform to take root, the next phase of leadership must prioritise digitising procurement, enforcing asset declarations, and empowering independent watchdogs.
Education and healthcare are the bedrock of sustainable development, yet both sectors remain underfunded. Government spending on education still falls short of the 20% benchmark set by UNESCO while health expenditure remains below the 15% threshold recommended by the WHO. The result is overcrowded classrooms, poorly equipped clinics, and declining public confidence in essential services. What The Gambia urgently needs is not just a change in personnel but a shift in governance culture towards evidence-based planning, citizen-focused budgeting, and leadership grounded in integrity. With the 2026 elections on the horizon, Gambians must demand more than rhetoric. The country’s future depends not only on who is elected, but on whether they are ready to govern differently.
