Office of the President Among Top Overspending Institutions in 2024
Although Parliamentarians failed to perform budget oversight, our latest publication on the government's expenditure reveals that the Office of the President has overspent by over D130 million for the first 11 months of 2024. More in our latest budget report.
Finance Minister Confirms Government’s $10M Rescue for GAMCEL Salaries
Months after GAMCEL employees raised concerns over unpaid salaries, the Gambian government has secured a $10 million World Bank bailout to cover their arrears. Finance Minister Seedy Keita confirmed that the funds, part of a broader budget support grant, were used to pay staff for December 2024 and January 2025. However, with GAMCEL still operating at a financial loss, employees fear the crisis is far from over. More in the report.
NAWEC Undermined by Government's D248 Million Arrears in Unpaid Bills
Government arrears totalling over D248 million to NAWEC are undermining the capability of the only national water and electricity company from functioning properly. The list of institutions in arears includes MDAs, SOEs, and Local Councils. More in this report.
FactCheck: Is D33 Million Spent on UTG Bus Services Every Year?
In his quest to highlight The Gambia Government’s efforts to promote University education, the Minister for Information, Media and Broadcasting Services claimed that the government “spends D33 million” annually to shuttle University of The Gambia (UTG) students to and from the new Faraba Banta Campus. Our researchers have perused budget documents and received information from the Ministry of Finance proving the Minister’s claim are false.
SOE Report Warns: NAWEC’s Financial Woes Pose National Risk
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) remains in dire financial straits as its losses continue to mount, raising concerns about its sustainability and impact on the national economy. More in the report.
The Crisis Threatening GAMTEL: D197 Million in Unpaid Debts
The Gambia Telecommunications Company (GAMTEL) is grappling with a severe financial crisis, burdened by nearly D197 million in unpaid debts. More in this report.
Debt Payments Consumed Over a Quarter of 2024 National Budget
As the government struggles to balance revenue collection and expenditure, a concerning trend persists with debt servicing continuing to consume a substantial portion of the national budget. More in the report.
Have Parliament and the Executive Violated the Law on Budget Oversight?
This publication interrogates the question of whether Parliament and the Executive have violated the law with regards to budget implementation by making reference to legal provisions and highlighting instances when this legal requirement has been ignored. This leaves the door open for waste, fraud, and abuse to continue unabated in The Gambia.
Exaggerated Tourism Boom? Investigating President Barrow’s Statement
President Adama Barrow’s recent claim that The Gambia recorded over 233,000 tourist arrivals in just three months has been debunked by official data. A fact-checking investigation reveals that the actual number is significantly lower, casting doubt on the government’s projections for the 2024-2025 tourist season. More in the report.
FactCheck: Has a Bag of Onions Dropped to D500 as Claimed by Dr. Ceesay?
While The Gambia’s Information Minister claimed that fiscal and monetary policies have led to a dramatic reduction in onion prices, our investigation found that the actual market prices are still much higher, undermining the minister’s statement. More in this FactCheck.
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