Speaker Matches VP’s Salary as NAMs Overtake Ministers After 50% Pay Rise
The Speaker of the National Assembly will now earn the same basic salary as the Vice President, while all 54 Parliamentarians will take home more than most Cabinet Ministers under a new 50% pay raise approved by the Sixth Legislature. The increases, which will cost taxpayers an additional D18.5 million in basic salaries alone, come alongside expanded allowances and a separate gratuity bill that could further raise Parliament’s compensation package in 2026.
More in the report.
Barrow Government Under Fire as UDP Demands Fair Groundnut Prices
The Barrow government is facing sharp criticism from the opposition UDP following its decision to maintain the groundnut price at D38,000 per tonne, with the party accusing the administration of abandoning farmers and refusing to offer fair compensation for their produce. More in this presser.
Government Fixes Groundnut Price at D38,000, Grants NFSPMC Exclusive Buying Rights
The Government of The Gambia has fixed the purchase price of groundnuts at D38,000 per metric tonne for the 2025/2026 trade season and granted the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC) exclusive rights to buy and export groundnuts during the first three months of the season, the Ministry of Agriculture announced. More in the news report.
EU Supports The Gambia’s Secondary Education With D1.7 Billion Five Year Grant
The European Union and the Government of The Gambia have signed a Financing Agreement for the programme “EU Support to Improve Secondary Education for The Youth (EU-ISEY)”. The new programme, worth approx. 1.7 billion dalasi (20 million euros), aims at improving Senior Secondary Education completion rates while reducing the gender and socioeconomic inequalities in educational attainment in The Gambia, especially in rural areas. More in the press release.
World Bank Approves $45m (D3.3b) Grant to Fund Recovery-Focused Development Plan (2023 to 2027)
The World Bank issued a statement announcing that it has approved a $45 million grant (D3.3 billion) to support President Adama Barrow’s Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023 to 2027). The grant aims to support the Government of The Gambia’s efforts to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation and lay key infrastructure, regulatory and skill foundations for private sector development, and strengthen climate resilience. More in the press release.
Sub-Saharan Africa Maintains Resilient Growth but Faces Urgent Jobs Challenge
Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy remains resilient, with growth projected to reach 3.8 percent in 2025, up from 3.5 percent in 2024. This acceleration reflects easing inflationary pressures and a modest recovery of investment despite persistent global economic uncertainty. More in this publication.
YCell: Is Yonna Group Preparing to Unveil its Takeover of Gamcel with a Rebrand?
The Government’s efforts to privatize Gamtel and outrightly sell Gamcel has been shrouded in mystery for years now. Our reporter took this picture today, 30th September 2025 of a building previously occupied by Yonna Group at Kololi Tavern. The sign is clearly showing Y Cell with a long sign board still covered. More in this news report.
Central Bank Holds Third Quarterly Review of 2025, Maintaining Policy Rate at 17%
The Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has maintained the monetary policy rate at 17 percent following its quarterly Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held on Tuesday, 3rd September 2025, at the bank’s headquarters in Banjul. More in the news report.
GRA Collects Over D15.6 Billion in Seven Months, Beating Revenue Target
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has surpassed its tax revenue target for the first seven months of 2025 by more than D2.1 billion, collecting over D15.6 billion. This announcement was made by GRA Commissioner General, Mr. Yankuba Darboe, during his appearance on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Monday, 11th August 2025. More in the news report.
International Whistleblower Protection Organisations Issue Statement in Support of Mamadi Kurang
Two international whistleblower protection organisations and partners have issued a statement in support of Gambian whistleblower Alhaji Mamdi Kurang, who raised the alarm on the alleged corruption surrounding the Janneh Commission and the sale of assets fraudulently acquired by former President Jammeh. More in the press release.
NAO and Media Strengthen Partnership for Improved Audit Coverage
In a bid to enhance transparency and deepen public understanding of its work, The Gambia’s National Audit Office (NAO) held a two-day engagement with journalists from across the country, aiming to strengthen collaboration and improve media coverage of public sector audits. The workshop, held from 30th to 31st July 2025 in Bakadaji, brought together reporters from television, radio, print, and online platforms to explore the NAO’s mandate, governance structure, and audit processes.
Streams Turn into Sewers Overnight: Dippa Kunda Residents Expose Hidden Waste Dumping
What appears to be a clean waterway by day transforms into a dumping ground by night. In communities along the Kotu and Manjai streams, residents say their lives are being upended by clandestine waste disposal and blocked channels that turn seasonal rains into destructive floods. More in the news report.
From Numbers to Impact: Advocates Trained to Make Budgets Work for Education, Health, and Agriculture
Civil society actors, journalists, and sector experts gathered in Kololi for a three-day workshop aimed at transforming how citizens engage with the national budget—shifting focus from figures on paper to real-world impact in essential sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture. Organized by Gambia Participates in partnership with the International Budget Partnership, the training emphasized the importance of understanding budget implementation and holding government accountable for how public funds are spent. More in the news report.
D12 Bread, Same Old Loaf? Questions Arise Over Weight Compliance
As The Gambia’s new bread pricing policy takes effect, consumers are raising alarm bells over whether the promised weight increase is being honoured. Although the Ministry of Trade mandated that loaves must increase in weight to justify the jump from D10 to D12, early observations suggest a lack of monitoring—and loaves that look suspiciously unchanged. More in this news report.
Foreign Currency Use in The Gambia is Illegal says Central Bank Governor Saidy
The Central Bank of The Gambia has issued a firm warning against the use of foreign currency in local transactions, declaring it illegal and punishable by law. Governor Buah Saidy made the announcement during the Bank’s quarterly Monetary Policy Committee briefing, amid rising concerns that businesses across the country are increasingly demanding payments in foreign currencies. More in the report.
Ministry of Trade Announces Bread Price Hike Hours After President Barrow’s 2025 Address
Just hours after President Adama Barrow assured the National Assembly of his government’s efforts to ease the cost of living in his 2025 State of the Nation Address, the Ministry of Trade announced a bread price hike—from D10 to D12—effective July. The decision follows consultations with bakers and consumer protection authorities, as the country continues to grapple with inflationary pressures on basic goods. More in the publication.
Central Bank’s Optimistic Inflation Outlook Faces Renewed Setbacks in 2025
The Central Bank of The Gambia’s hopes of bringing inflation under control in 2025 are facing renewed setbacks, despite current signs of progress. While headline inflation eased to 8.1% in April from 10.2% in early 2025, the lowest rate since early 2023, it remains significantly above the Bank’s medium-term target of 5%, underscoring persistent price pressures and structural vulnerabilities in the economy. More in the report.
Food, Energy, and Core Inflation Under Scrutiny as Gambia’s Economy Grows
The Gambia’s economy grew by 5.3 percent in 2024, fuelled by gains in the services and industrial sectors, according to the Central Bank’s latest monetary policy update. However, Governor Buah Saidy warned that persistent core inflation and global trade uncertainties continue to pose significant risks to the country’s economic stability. More in the report.
World Bank Approves $52.6 M to Boost Transport and Energy Infrastructure Access in The Gambia
WASHINGTON, May 29, 2025 — The World Bank has approved $52.6 million in financing for The Gambia to improve transport and energy infrastructure access in select areas and strengthen institutional capacity for service delivery. The project will directly benefit over 100,000 people through enhanced road connectivity and expanded electricity access. More in the press release.
Gambian Parliament Launches Probe into Sale of Jammeh’s Assets
The Gambian National Assembly launched a formal investigation into the controversial sale of assets seized from former President Yahya Jammeh, following public protests and a damning investigative report. More in the publication.
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