Government Finalises Sale of 80% Stake in GAMCEL to YCell for D6.1 Billion
Gamtel and YCell Signing Ceremony © Gamtel
By Edward Dalliah, Jr
The Government has officially signed an agreement transferring an 80% ownership stake in the state-owned mobile operator, GAMCEL, to YCell, alongside a D6.1 billion investment to modernise the company's network infrastructure and business operations.
The deal, which has long been under negotiation, appears to have changed since the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbi, informed Parliament on Wednesday 10th December 2025, during an oral question-and-answer session that after a bidding process, Ycell submitted “emerged as the most responsive bidder with an investment proposal of D6.7 billion”, and they are waiting for “the green light on contract signing, subject to further Cabinet approval”.
He further told lawmakers that under the proposal, “the first direct payment [the Government] expects for the 80% of the shares may go close to or above D800 million, and the remaining D6 billion will be invested in the infrastructure.”
The agreement, described by the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy as a “Landmark Share Investment and Network Modernisation Agreement,” was signed on Wednesday, 8th July 2026, between Gambia Telecommunication Limited (GAMTEL) and YCell Company Limited, marking one of the largest investments in the Sate-owned enterprise in recent years.
In a Facebook post dated 9th July 2026, the Ministry stated that “under the agreement, YCell will acquire an 80% equity stake in GAMCEL and bring both financial and technical expertise to modernise the company's network infrastructure and transform its business operations.”
The Ministry disclosed that “as part of the agreement, YCell has committed to invest D6.1 billion in a comprehensive infrastructure and network modernisation programme aimed at delivering world-class telecommunications services across The Gambia.”
No information was provided on whether the D800 million first direct payment to the Government announced by Minister Jabbi has been received or if it has been included in the agreement.
According to the Ministry, the investment will finance the nationwide deployment of 4G/LTE and 5G radio access networks, upgrades to GAMCEL's core network, and the implementation of next-generation operational support systems, customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and convergent billing systems.
The agreement also provides for the construction of a modern corporate head office for GAMCEL, the deployment of hybrid power solutions across tower sites, the installation of integrated revenue assurance and fraud management systems, institutional capacity building, strategic branding and marketing initiatives, and the engagement of an independent technical expert to oversee the implementation of the modernisation programme.
Communications Minister (left) © Gamtel
The Ministry said the partnership represents a major investment in The Gambia's digital future and is expected to improve service quality, expand nationwide connectivity, and accelerate the country's digital transformation agenda.
The signing formalises a process that began after the Government selected YCell as the preferred strategic investor following a competitive bidding process involving eight companies. The objective is to revive GAMCEL, whose ageing infrastructure and declining market share have weakened its ability to compete in the country's telecommunications market.
Askanwi's earlier reporting in September 2025 revealed that Yonna Group and DK Telecoms were the two companies initially shortlisted from the eight firms that expressed interest in acquiring a stake in GAMCEL.
Further investigation by this medium indicates that YCell appears to be a newly established entity linked to the Yonna Group. On 30th September 2025, Askanwi photographed a building in Kololi Tavern previously occupied by Yonna Foreign Exchange Bureau, a company under the Yonna Group, where a covered signboard bearing the name “YCell” was visible.
Additional research also identified a website operating under the name YCell, which describes itself as “a leading GSM company dedicated to delivering reliable, fast, and secure communication services across the region.” The website features individuals wearing Yonna-branded T-shirts, suggesting an affiliation with the Yonna Group. However, there is little publicly available evidence that YCell has an established operational track record in the telecommunications sector.
With the signing of the agreement, it is now clear that YCell is affiliated with the Yonna Group, a diversified business consortium with investments in agriculture, foreign exchange, and financial services. The agreement marks the transition from negotiations to implementation, with the modernisation programme expected to reposition GAMCEL as a stronger competitor in the country's telecommunications industry alongside Africell, QCell, and Comium.
