FactCheck: Has the Barrow Government Disbursed Over D90 Million to Support Women Entrepreneurs?

During the widely watched Good Morning Show on the State Broadcaster, GRTS TV, on 1st December 2025, the Minister for Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, claimed that President Adama Barrow’s government has disbursed over D90 million to different women via the Women’s Empowerment Fund (WEF). Our reporter contacted Dr Ceesay, the WEF and conducted budget research to verify this claim. More in this FactCheck.

Read More

FactCheck: What did the Finance Minister tell Parliamentarians on Debt Servicing?

A disagreement has erupted between the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA), Foroyaa Newspaper, and renowned civil society advocate Mr. Madi Jobarteh, resulting in claims and counterclaims that 80% of The Gambia’s debt is from the previous administration of President Yahya Jammeh. Find out exactly what the Finance Minister stated on the Debt Service.

Read More

FactCheck: Has Agriculture Budget Increased by 84% from 2025 to 2026?

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.

Read More

FactCheck: Was Gambia’s Tax-Revenue in 2022 Less Than D10 Billion?

The Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Jabbie, claimed that The Gambia did not collect D10 billion in 2022 and that tax revenue increased to D20.8 billion by 2024.

Our reporter investigates these claims using data from the Ministry of Finance, Gambia Revenue Authority and Gambia Bureau of Statistics.

Find out more in this feature publication.

Read More

How President Barrow Overspent D173 Million on the Meet the People’s Tour

This week marks the start of President Adama Barrow’s eighth Meet the People’s Tour, mandated by the 1997 Constitution. Our budget analysis reveals that, over the years, President Barrow has spent more than D246 million on the tour, despite Parliament only approving D72 million for the same period. This means President Barrow overspent by D173 million — an increase of approximately 340%. More in the budget analysis report.

Read More

Finance Minister to Table Cabinet 2026 Budget Proposal Requesting D59.3 Billion in Expenditures

The Finance Minister is set to table Cabinet’s 2026 Draft Budget in Parliament on Friday, 31st October 2025, requesting for National Assembly Members to approve D59.3 billion in expenditures for 2026. This publication contrasts the government spending on recurrent and development expenditures and highlights the whopping D13.4 billion National Debt Service. More in the report.

Read More
FactCheck, PURA, Price Floor, Internet, Business Economy Askanwi Gambia FactCheck, PURA, Price Floor, Internet, Business Economy Askanwi Gambia

FactCheck: Did PURA Set a Maximum Price of D50 for 1GB of Internet Data?

This factcheck interrogates a publication shared by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) confusing a price ceiling with a price floor. The publication details a response from PURA’s Director of Economic Regulation, Mr Burama Jammeh, indicating that a mistake was made to cut the promotions short. More in this factcheck article.

Read More

Illusion of Truth? Minister's D36 Million UTG Transport Claims FactChecked Again!

The Gambia’s Information Minister Dr. Ismaila Ceesay has repeatedly claimed that the government spends up to D36 million annually to transport University of The Gambia (UTG) students to and from the Faraba Banta campus. However, a review of official budget records verified by finance officials reveals a much lower expenditure—raising concerns that the Minister’s statements reflect the illusory truth effect, where repeated misinformation is mistaken for fact. More in this FactCheck.

Read More
GAMTEL, Business Economy, Debt Askanwi Gambia GAMTEL, Business Economy, Debt Askanwi Gambia

Who Will Pay? GAMTEL Faces Privatisation While D197M in Public Debt Remains Unpaid

The Gambia Telecommunications Company Limited (GAMTEL) is on the brink of privatisation, but critical questions remain unanswered—chief among them: who will settle the D197 million debt owed to the company by government institutions and state-owned enterprises? As the government moves to finalise a contract with an unnamed private partner, a damning audit report reveals years of unpaid arrears, political interference, and systemic failures that have left the national telecoms provider financially crippled and structurally adrift. More in this feature report.

Read More

D13.4M Missing: Financial Irregularities Exposed Amid Gamtel/Gamcel Job Cuts

As more than 700 employees of Gamtel and Gamcel brace for redundancy under a World Bank-backed reform plan, newly obtained documents reveal over D13.4 million in unremitted staff contributions to the Gamtel Credit Union—exposing deep financial irregularities within the state-run telecom giants. The missing funds, deducted from employee salaries but never transferred, have fueled growing outrage among workers already facing delayed pay and uncertain futures. More in the report.

Read More

Donate to Askanwi

Why Support Askanwi?

Donate to Askanwi's GoFundMe: Support Askanwi - Reliable News for The Gambia

Askanwi is dedicated to bridging the gap for reliable, balanced, and citizen-centered news that directly impacts the lives of its readers.

By closely monitoring the progress of the country's transitional process, Askanwi continues to lead with powerful human interest stories, including the ongoing coverage of the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) crisis, the drafting of the new Constitution, and the rollout of the Transitional Justice Program—just to name a few.

Your generous support will enable Askanwi to continue its important work: following the AKI saga, breaking stories of corruption, investigating public malfeasance, producing quarterly newsletters, and ensuring the continued operation of Askanwi Media.

Donate to Askanwi’s GoFundMe: Support Askanwi - Reliable News for The Gambia