The first week of 2026 began on a positive note for Askanwi Media after it blew the whistle on telecom operators for failing to comply with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) D75 per 1GB price ceiling, announced on 19th December 2025.

Follow Askanwi’s week-long advocacy journalism for the reduction of data prices under the price floor, which featured interviews with PURA and Gamcel.

After Askanwi blew the whistle yesterday, 6th January 2026, Africell and QCell revised their data tariffs from D130 to D65 per 1GB. This leaves Gamcel as the only telecom operator still charging D130 per 1GB—D55 above the price ceiling set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

Our reporter spoke to PURA and Gamcel about the lack of compliance and if customers will be refunded for overcharging during the first six days of 2026.

Almost one week into 2026, Askanwi Media can reveal that only Comium appears to be complying with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s (PURA) newly announced data price ceiling. Months after over 23 protestors were jailed for petitioning PURA’s D50 per 1GB price floor, PURA eventually succumbed to their demands to abolish the price floor and introduce a price ceiling, but it appears telecom companies are still not in compliance. More in the news report.

Gambian rapper and activist Ali “Killa Ace” Cham is set to release a new single titled “We Are Lawful, We Are Legal”, featuring Sparkling Black, ahead of his concert on 2nd January 2026.

The concert is set to feature the biggest names in Gambian hip hop as fans get set to swarm the Motherland Club in SeneGambia this Friday.

More in this entertainment news report.

It has been more than six weeks since President Adama Barrow’s government established a committee to look into the D50 per 1GB data price floor introduced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on 20th August 2025. A group of civil society advocates issued a statement calling for the government to act on the report which the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy noted was completed since 3rd October 2025. More in the statement.

State House yesterday announced that President Adama Barrow will embark on his annual leave, just hours after delivering a national address on “dialogue and the rule of law.” His departure comes in the wake of the death of Omar Badjie, which sparked civil unrest in Lamin. More in the report.

Article 19 issued a statement on the arrest of some 23 advocates for protesting against the PURA price floor in August 2025. The activists were remanded in Mile 2 and went on a hunger strike.

More in the press release.

All Gambian GSM Companies promised to address concerns from Hon Almami Gibba of Foni Kansala on the poor network performance in the Foni’s since the change of regime from former President Jammeh to current President Barrow during the 8th Consumer Parliament organised by PURA. More in the report.