FactCheck: Did the World Bank Approve $6.4M or $10M for the Gamtel/Gamcel Social Plan?
President and Minister’s Differ on Gamtel/ Gamcel Social Plan © Askanwi
By Edward Francis Dalliah
Following President Adama Barrow’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), in which he announced a $6.4 million World Bank-funded social package for some 700 Gamtel and Gamcel employees set to be laid off, our reporter conducted a fact-check investigation. The goal: to verify the accuracy of the President’s statement, which appears to contradict an earlier claim made by the Minister of Finance.
Background: Ailing State Telecom Giants
Once dominant players in The Gambia’s telecommunications sector, Gamtel and Gamcel have faced years of decline due to mismanagement and outdated infrastructure—issues repeatedly flagged by auditors. Their deteriorating performance has left both institutions struggling to operate effectively and meet payroll obligations.
In response, the government sought financial assistance from the World Bank. By December 2024, the Bank approved funding that facilitated the launch of a Social Plan intended to support employees affected by the ongoing restructuring of Gamtel and Gamcel.
This plan is part of a broader government initiative to reform and revive the two state-owned enterprises (SOEs). It includes compensation for redundant staff—either through retirement or retrenchment—while also addressing overstaffing, modernising operations, and attracting private investment via a public-private partnership model.
But amid these sweeping reforms, one crucial question remains: How much funding has the World Bank actually approved for the Gamtel/Gamcel Social Plan?
Claim 1: The President’s Statement
In his 19th June 2025 SONA, President Barrow emphasised his administration’s commitment to restructuring Gamtel, Gamcel, and Gampost. He stated:
“The World Bank has committed six million, four hundred thousand US Dollars (US$6.4 million) for the Gamtel/Gamcel Social Plan.”
He further added that the plan would compensate over 700 affected staff members and offer additional support.
📍Time stamp: 2 hours, 15 minutes into the SONA.
Claim 2: Ministerial Confirmation
During the SONA debate on 26th June 2025, the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbie, reaffirmed the President’s claim:
“The World Bank has put aside about $6.4 million for the implementation of the social plan.”
He detailed that the plan would be implemented in three phases, involving voluntary retirement and retrenchment, each with specific conditions.
📍Time stamp: 7 hours, 11 minutes.
Claim 3: Media Report
However, a report by The Standard Newspaper, published a day after Hon. Jabbie’s address and uploaded online on June 25, 2025, stated:
“The World Bank has provided funds amounting to US$4.6 million for the compensation of the affected staff.”
https://standard.gm/over-600-staff-to-leave-under-gamtel-gamcel-privatisation-deal/
Fact-Check Findings
According to an investigative report by Askanwi Media, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Hon. Seedy Keita, previously cited a different figure.
In an interview on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on 11th March 2025, Minister Keita stated:
“The government had appealed to the World Bank and secured $10 million to bail out Gamcel’s salaries for the last two months.”
📍Time stamp: 17 minutes.
He also noted that the $10 million was part of a $30 million budget support package from the World Bank, approved on 6th December 2024, to promote productivity, strengthen governance, and enhance economic resilience in The Gambia.
The same interview confirmed that the $10 million was specifically requested as a “social package for Gamtel and Gamcel staff,” part of which was used to cover salary arrears at Gamcel. The Digital Economy Minister, Hon. Jabbie, later confirmed on 26th March 2025, that D9 million from the fund had been used to pay two months' salary arrears.
📍Time stamp: 4 hours, 3 minutes.
What the Document Says
Askanwi Media also reviewed an internal government document titled “Draft Social Plan & Grievance Redress Mechanism for Gamtel/Gamcel”, dated June 2024.
The document estimates:
“The total cost of the Social Plan, including a 2% contingency, is GMD 435,456,645.60, or approximately $6,489,666.85.”
This suggests that the $6.4 million figure cited by President Barrow and Minister Jabbie may be based on this internal projection. However, the question remains why this was not stated from the onset and if the remaining $3.6 million will be used for their intended purpose.
Verdicts
Claim of $4.6M: Based on our review of the Minister’s parliamentary statement and available recordings, The Standard’s report of $4.6 million appears to be an error. Minister Jabbie clearly stated $6.4 million, making the newspaper’s figure misleading.
$6.4M vs. $10M Discrepancy: A more significant discrepancy lies between the $6.4 million cited in recent statements and the $10 million originally announced by Finance Minister Seedy Keita in March 2025. This leaves a difference of $3.6 million, or D252 million, based on an exchange rate of D70 to $1.
Conclusion
There is no clear explanation for why the original $10 million figure has been revised down—or whether the $6.4 million refers only to the portion allocated specifically for direct staff compensation. Given that public funds and livelihoods are at stake, transparency is essential.
It remains to be seen whether Finance Minister Hon. Seedy Keita, in collaboration with Digital Economy Minister Hon. Lamin Jabbie, will provide a comprehensive and transparent breakdown of how the $10 million disbursed by the World Bank is being spent.
The public deserves clarity. The affected workers deserve justice. And the figures must add up.
