As Tobaski approaches, almost everyone is bemoaning the high cost of rams. The past week has also seen some of the worst electricity blackouts the country has experienced. In my neighbourhood of Brusubi alone, we endured over 10 hours of outages in a single 24-hour period. These two phenomena – both of which are deeply affecting the average Gambian – are more closely related than they might appear.

More in this opinion piece.

The Minister of Fisheries, Musa Drammeh, was quoted in the press attributing high fish prices to fuel costs. He also claimed that the lack of a fish landing port in Banjul contributes to high prices and pointed to the absence of cold storage and fish processing facilities as additional factors. In doing so, Minister Drammeh is merely confirming what should have long been obvious to anyone paying attention: he is an unserious minister who does not care about the welfare of Gambians and is instead weaving a demonstrably false narrative.

More in this in-depth look at the rising cost of fish.

The head of the National Road Authority (NRA), Mr. Sulayman S. Janneh, was quoted in the press blaming the country's road deficit on the previous regimes of Yahya Jammeh and Dawda Jawara, and claiming that there are better standards under the Adama Barrow regime. The Gambia certainly has a major roads problem. It is reflected in both quality and quantity - though Mr. Janneh chose to attribute only the quantity deficit to his boss’s predecessors.

More in our latest edition of Economic Deep Dive.

In our latest edition of Economic Deep Dive by Dr Ousman Gajigo, he dissects The Gambia’s economic domestic challenges, which he argues is an unfolding emergency that “few people are talking about with the urgency it deserves”.

More in this data-driven business economy analysis.

The Special Select Committee's report on the disposal of Jammeh's assets makes for sobering reading. It provides a gripping account of administrative incompetence, institutional dysfunction, and governance failures.

More in the article.

Veteran businessman and former President of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Abdoulie M. Touray, shares this policy advisory note on stakeholders vs shareholders.

His insightful publication delves into the importance of a fully functional stock exchange market.

More in this expert publication.

The press recently quoted the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) announcing a cut to its monetary policy rate (MPR). The MPR is one of the key tools of monetary policy, and it is the interest rate set by the CBG to manage and guide market interest rates. Within the same press report, the CBG projected strong economic growth.

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The government's annual purchase of groundnuts from farmers is not a long-term viable strategy. It is fiscally draining, has been short-changing farmers, and is a commercial activity for which government entities are ill-suited. It is high time the country implements a strategy that meets the modern needs of the Gambian economy and of farmers in particular.

More in this article.

Recently, the government announced a temporary restriction on the importation of potatoes and onions, ostensibly to protect local producers. On the surface, this seems like a good decision. However, on closer inspection, it is not the action of a government that is serious about supporting local industry or farmers, particularly smallholders.

More in this article.

Dr Ousman Gajigo observes that Tourists staying in Gambian hotels are increasingly crossing into Senegal for nature and cultural experiences that should be found at home, exposing a costly leakage in the country’s tourism economy.

From the neglect of Abuko Nature Reserve and Sindola Safari Park to poor integration with agriculture and local communities, government inaction has left the sector shallow and enclave-driven, argues Dr Gajigo.

As arrivals become the sole metric of success, the deeper value of tourism—jobs, linkages, and shared prosperity—continues to diminish. More in this opinion piece.