Africa-Press – Gambia. Demba Sabally, the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security, sharply criticized a campaign pledge by West Coast Region Chairman Yankuba Darboe, calling it a threat to national development and an attempt to mislead voters ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
Speaking during President Adama Barrow’s “Meet the People Tour” in Brikama, Sabally denounced Darboe’s promise to allocate D5 million to every ward should his party leader, ANM Ousainu Darboe win the 2026 presidential elections. The minister questioned why such funds—if they truly exist—were not being used to address long standing infrastructure deficits.
“If that money is available, why not use it to build roads and markets?” Sabally asked, suggesting that opposition leaders would prefer to withhold development in order to deny President Barrow credit. “Let him wait for the hereafter to give that money, because Ousainu Darboe will not win,” he added, referring to the United Democratic Party leader.
Sabally accused Chairman Darboe of failing to deliver basic services in the West Coast Region, claiming that residents regret electing him. “Since he came into office, he has not constructed any road in Brikama—let alone the entire region,” the minister said. He described market conditions during the rainy season as unsanitary and alleged that Darboe “is unable to do anything about roads and markets apart from being involved in disputes.”
The minister also criticized what he described as a steep increase in compound tax under Darboe’s leadership, from D200 to D2000, arguing that West Coast residents now face higher local tax burdens than communities in other regions. He predicted that voters “will remove him from office.”
Sabally further asserted that the opposition-held National Assembly seats in the West Coast Region have slowed government progress, accusing their representatives of seeking to “take the development of the region backward.” He said the same applied to opposition councillors, insisting that voters would “solve” the issue in future elections.
Neither Chairman Darboe nor the United Democratic Party immediately responded to Sabally’s remarks.
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