As inflation remains above target and dependence on imports deepens, The Gambia continues to struggle with the high cost of goods, particularly for staple commodities like rice, sugar, and flour. To curb this, the Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), Buha Saidy, has recommended more investment in domestic food production as a key route to price stability. Nevertheless, persistent budget execution gaps, issues of transparency, and longstanding weaknesses in the agricultural sector raise doubts about whether this strategy can achieve the desired results. More in this feature publication.

For generations, the fertile banks of the Kotu Stream have provided food and income for nearby communities. Now, as the government prepares to restore the degraded waterway under the WACA project, long-time gardeners worry they may be forced off land they have depended on for years. More in this feature report.

Corruption, political interference and sheer incompetence have crippled a $7 million African Development Bank–funded agriculture project intended to boost food security in The Gambia, leaving once-productive rice fields in Limbambulu devastated and farmers worse off than before. More in the feature report.

During a parliamentary engagement, Finance Minister Hon. Seedy S. Keita told the National Assembly Member that “Agriculture attracts an increase of 84% in 2026 from 2025, the largest allocation in the last ten years.” Our reporter looked at the data to ascertain if the Finance Minister’s claims are accurate.

More in the feature report.

The Gambia Government signed a memorandum of understanding on circular migration with the Kingdom of Spain on 28th August 2024. Barely a week after Parliamentarians ratified the MoU, a leaked letter from the Spanish Government instructed The Gambia to notify citizens not to pay for their application to work in Spain. Download a copy of the agreement from this article.

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.