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.

Speaking at QTV’s This Morning Show, Information Minister Dr. Ceesay claimed that The Gambia is the only country that builds a university and shuttles students to the university. Askanwi factcheckers have found examples across four African countries proving the Minister’s claims are false. More in the factcheck.

The University of the Gambia has been incapacitated by a protest after students demanded for two lecturers to be reinstated after a news publication claimed that a court had ordered their reinstatement and compensation to the tune of D5.2 million. The Point Newspaper issued a corrigendum rectifying this, and the Minister for Higher Education clarified this at a press briefing yesterday, 6th December 2024.
More in the story.

Askanwi’s latest budget analysis shows that Debt Service continues to overcrowd Government’s Expenditure in key economic areas such as health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure in 2024, with the situation expected to worsen in 2025.