The Barrow Administration is stumbling from crisis to crisis on multiple fronts, putting the country at risk. GFA warns
The deepening crisis arising from the sale of the “Jammaeh assets” is the inevitable result of the poor governance system presided over by President Adama Barrow. A system that appears to encourage inefficiency, corruption, and mismanagement of scarce natural resources.
After the long dark years of the Jammeh dictatorship, Gambians took great risks to put an end to the ruthlessness and brutality by one of Africa’s most reckless dictators. President Adama Barrow is a product and the principal beneficiary of that “blood and sweat struggle” by Gambians. With high expectations, the country was poised for a new beginning that should be characterized by administrative efficiency, good governance, and economic prosperity.
Unfortunately, almost 8 years since being elected on the reform ticket, president Barrow has not only reneged on the implementation of key reforms, but took the opposite direction of maintaining Jammeh-era administrative style and system. A system that encourages cronyism, corruption and administrative malfeasance. Ignoring competent Gambian professionals, president Barrow chose to rely on discredited members of the old dictatorship, and well known sycophants with dubious credentials, and very little or no record of public service experience.
It is not surprising that the administration continues to be bedevilled by persistent allegations of serious fraud and corruption. For many Gambians, the climax was reached with the publication of the critical report by the “Republic” outlining the alleged fraudulent dealings with the seized assets of former president, Yaya Jammeh. It will be recalled that the government has never been transparent with the manner and method of dealing with the Jammeh assets. The minister of justice even went as far as refusing to publish the list of names involved in the procurement of those assets, strangely citing privacy rules.
Faced with public outrage, and the threat of possible social disturbance, the administration announced a presidential state of the nations address, and the ministry of justice hurriedly producing a random list of names of purporting to be the purchasers of the Jammeh assets. Looking at the list, one cannot help but feel sorry about the level of incompetence that prevails in Barrows administration. The list produced does not even meet the standards of a VDC’s administrative document.
GFA believes the president’s address to the nations was a missed opportunity. Instead of addressing the issues of corruption and lack of transparency, president Barrow decides to, as it were, push the can further down the line with announcement of waiting for an audit and parliamentary inquiry report.
The most extraordinary part of the president’s speech is the admission that it was only last week 4th May 2025, that he became aware of alleged criminal malpractice of such serious magnitude happening under his watch. This begs the question: how much else does he not know? The logical next question would be, is there a parallel administration that government officials report to.
For all these failings GFA holds President ultimately responsible, because he is the one Gambians voted for, and many of the officials are appointed by him, and serve at his pleasure.
Long Live The Gambia
Long Live GFA
