What Happens to the Price Floor Committee While President Barrow Takes Six Weeks Leave?
President Adama Barrow © State House
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
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.
Only last month, President Barrow established a high-level committee to review the D50 per 1GB data price floor introduced by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) on 22nd August 2025.
The announcement of the committee gave no deadline for its work. Now, with the President away until 11th November 2025, any decision or announcement may be delayed until his return.
Critics argue that the timing of the President’s leave is ill-judged, given the tense atmosphere in the country and the urgent need for visible leadership.
One observer noted that while public servants are entitled to a maximum of 22 working days’ leave, the President’s break—stretching from 1st October to 11th November—spans well over six weeks. Another critic quipped, “Six weeks’ holiday? Who gets that these days?”
Interestingly, President Barrow is not the only key figure to take time off during the controversy. PURA’s Managing Director, Dr. Njogou Bah, also went on leave shortly after the introduction of the data price floor.
When reporters visited PURA in mid-August seeking clarity, staff disclosed that Dr. Bah was away, leaving his team to field questions from the media and petitioners on their own.
