The Gambia’s youth unemployment crisis has escalated to critical levels under President Adama Barrow’s National People’s Party (NPP) administration, which critics have branded the “Kereng Kaffoo” government.
Despite bold campaign promises to create 150,000 jobs, the reality for the nation’s young population is one of unfulfilled pledges, neglect, and a troubling reliance on exporting labor to foreign countries.
Tombong Saidy, Administrative Secretary for Media and Communication of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), has sharply criticized the Barrow administration for failing to address the unemployment epidemic. “Years into his leadership, President Barrow’s promise remains a mirage,” Saidy stated.
Instead of fostering domestic job growth, the government has turned to sending Gambian youths abroad—many to Spain to labor on farms under grueling conditions and others to Saudi Arabia as domestic workers, where reports of exploitation and abuse are rife. “This is not a solution; it’s an abdication of responsibility,” Saidy added.
The administration’s shortcomings extend beyond employment. The Gambia National Football Team, the Scorpions, has been unable to play home matches at the Independence Stadium due to its dilapidated state, despite millions of dalasi reportedly spent on renovations.
“The stadium is a symbol of mismanagement and wasted resources,” Saidy said, drawing a parallel to the plight of Gambian youths forced to seek opportunities overseas. “Just as the Scorpions play on foreign soil, our young people are pushed abroad because their own country cannot provide for them.”
Saidy argues that The Gambia’s youthful population—described as energetic and creative—represents untapped potential squandered by a lack of investment in education, skills training, and key industries like agriculture, tourism, and technology. He also called for the urgent rehabilitation of public infrastructure, such as the Independence Stadium, to boost national pride and create opportunities in sports and entertainment.
The UDP has positioned itself as the solution, pledging “immediate and decisive action” to reverse the unemployment crisis and prioritize Gambians’ future. “The youth deserve a government that values their potential and builds an environment where they can thrive,” Saidy emphasized. “The time for empty promises is over.”
The Barrow administration faces mounting pressure to deliver tangible results as discontent grows. With the youth watching closely, the demand for change echoes louder than ever across the nation.
