Back in 2024, the ferry situation was so dire that advocates were arrested for protesting against the poor handling of the ferries, which resulted in passengers being left with no option but to use smaller boats, which pose significant safety risks.

Askanwi has been tracking the government’s promises to address the ferry, with the latest failed promise being the Damen Shipyard Ferry, which should have been in Banjul by December 2025.

More in this promise tracker.

As The Gambia pushes forward with its Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) 2023-2027, economic hurdles threaten progress. Rising debt, high inflation, and sluggish growth overshadow efforts to achieve stability and poverty reduction. With two years left in the plan, can the government turn the tide, or will the RF-NDP remain an unfulfilled ambition?

The Gambia’s ambitious Bertil Harding Highway expansion project, aimed at easing congestion and modernizing the country’s transportation network, has hit a snag. Despite securing a $40 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in October 2024, Phase III of the project failed to commence by the end of 2024 as promised by Transport Minister Ebrima Sillah. This delay has sparked public frustration and raised questions about the government’s ability to deliver on its infrastructure commitments.

Our observation shows that work is still ongoing, as streets like Lancaster and Perseverance are still yet to have new pavement. Therefore, Hon. Minister Ebrima Sillah’s claim that President Barrow’s government paved all the streets in Banjul is deemed misleading.

Verdict: MISLEADING

The Gambia’s only CAF Approved Stadium was banned since March 2022 and since then the Scorpions have been forced to play all home matches outside the country. Since then the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Bakary Badjie issued multiple promises to rectify this problem. Our report ascertains if the MoYS kept any of their promises?

This promise tracker verifies the Minister for Transport’s promise that the Kanilai Ferry’s maintenance will be require 18 weeks for completion and that the Ferry will be back in service in September 2024. Our reporter received an updated response from the relevant authorities on when the Kanilai Ferry will be back into service.

Back in December 2023 the Justice Minister revealed to Parliamentarians that his Ministry would establish a Victims Commission in the first quarter of 2024. However, now that the third quarter is almost complete the question remains if a Victims Commission will be established in 2024 at all.

Eight years after winning his first term under the promise of a Draft Constitution, President Adama Barrow continues to promise a Constitutional Referendum for December 2024. Our factcheckers verified if the President is on track with his promise.

The Gambia Ferry Services promised to complete much needed maintenance works on the Kunta Kinteh Ferry. This article tracks if the promise was kept or not?

Has President Adama Barrow met his National Development Plan’s target to reduce the unemployment rate?