Gambia's 1% Budget Deficit Target Lowest in 10 Years

The budget deficit for 2026 for all funds, government local funds and donor funds, is projected at 1%, the lowest in the last 10 years, Finance Minister Seedy Keita told parliament on Friday.

Economic expansion is expected to reach 5.9% in 2025, before slowing down to 5.5% next year. 

Gambia: Proposed FGM Bill 'Downplayed'

Anti-FGM campaigners argue that the lack of a law banning the practice weakens the legitimacy and impact of advocacy against harmful tradition practice. Activists Amie Bojang Sissoho, Dr. Isatou Touray, Amie Sillah and Mary Small at Monday's launch of One Billion Rising 2016 (Photo Credit: MSJoof/TNBES/Octover 2015)

Respond to UN allegations, additional budget is 'horrible’ - Opposition leader tells Gambia gov

NRP leader Hamat Bah speaking to journalists on election nomination day in 2011 (Photo Credit: SoutAfrica.com)

ACP-EU grouping restrict Gambia’s participation in bloc's 27th session

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The European Union-African Caribbean and Pacific (EU-ACP)’s Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) has restricted The Gambia’s participation in the pro-development bloc for not paying its contributions.

Gambia’s membership rights and privileges are been restricted in the grouping of States due to arrears in its membership contributions, revealed Hon. Netty Baldeh, a National Assembly member for Tumana district who led a delegation to the 27th Session of EU-ACP JPA in Strasbourg, France from 12-19 March.


Speaking at the Assembly on April 9, he said the Gambian ambassador was denied the chance to speak because The Gambia was among countries that are in arrears with their statutory contributions.

Local councils owing NAWEC over D159 million failed to honor payment plan

On the contrary, the company has not paid corporate taxes of D158 million

The Gambia’s sole producer, transmitter and distributor of electricity, water and sewage, says it has been faced with a legacy of arrears for many years.

Auditor identifies UTG’s ‘insecure’ financial dealings

Photo Credit: Helleman News

An auditor of the National Audit Office, Baba F. Drammeh, has identified ‘shocking’ financial irregularities at the University of The Gambia. 

 

Drammeh said the UTG officials have carried out payments whose vouchers are without adequate documentation, payments without recipients’ signature, procurement without competitive bidding and leave encashment that amounted to D4, 554, 083.28 (over US$ 119, 844).

In a breakdown, he noted that payment vouchers not signed by approving officer amount to D171, 955, payment vouchers lacking adequate documentation is D1, 458, 732, overseas travel allowance at D421, 078.78, payment without recipients signature D134, 180, procurement without competitive bidding D2, 272, 843.50 and leave encashment at D95, 294.

Gambia’s legislature endorse ‘emergency electricity programme’

The Gambia’s National Assembly has today (Wednesday) endorsed a grant of US$31.9M ‘emergency electric power supply programme’ meant for rehabilitation and maintenance of diesel generators and auxiliary equipment, fuel and lubricant procurement, and capacity building support to project management. 

The programme will also address payment preparation, monitoring and coordination cost by the implementing agency, West Africa Power Pool (WAPP). 

Meant for the Greater Banjul, a densely populated area, the agreement signed on December 16, 2013 between the Government of The Gambia and the ECOWAS Commission is expected to address erratic power supply.

The Gambia: 2014 national budget is D8.6 billion

The budget estimate includes a budget support of D313 million from World and African Development banks. (Photo credit: Central Bank of The Gambia, CBG)

The Gambia: MFWA alarmed by ‘threat to online freedom’

Nana Grey Johnson, Minister of Information and Communication, said this new law provides deterrent punishment for such persons who are engaged in “treacherous campaigns against The Gambia both internally and outside”

‘Inadequate capacity undermines women empowerment in The Gambia’

The same factors are also undermining the elimination of violence against women and girls in the West African nation: Serrekunda (Photo credit: D. Piris)