Africa-Press – Gambia. Tombong Saidy, a member of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), has launched a blistering attack on the government’s financial management, claiming that President Adama Barrow’s administration has accumulated more national debt than the combined borrowing of the previous two regimes.
In a fiery statement released on his official Facebook page, Saidy slammed senior officials for allegedly attempting to spread misinformation and downplay The Gambia’s crippling $2.2 billion national debt.
The UMC figure directly challenged Minister of Information Dr. Ismaila Ceesay over a recent statement in which the Minister appeared to minimize the severity of the debt, asking, “What is $2.2 billion?”
“Given the size of The Gambia’s economy and its population, our country is one of the most heavily indebted nations in the world relative to GDP and revenue capacity,” Saidy said. “To downplay this crisis is not only irresponsible but also an attempt to mislead citizens who deserve the truth.”
Saidy also disputed the Ministry of Finance’s claim that previous governments should bear 80% of the national debt burden.
He highlighted official figures showing that The Gambia’s national debt stood at approximately D47 billion in 2016. Under the Barrow administration, however, that figure has surged to over D110 billion.
“This means that the Barrow administration has borrowed more than the Jawara and Jammeh governments combined,” Saidy said. “This is a historical fact that cannot be distorted by political messaging.”
The UMC stalwart demanded that the government cease misleading the public and shift its focus to responsible borrowing aimed at productive sectors that can foster economic growth and reduce poverty.
“Gambians deserve honesty, accountability, and leadership that respects their intelligence,” Saidy said. “The era of sugar-coating economic challenges must end.”
It remains to be seen whether the government will issue a formal response to Saidy’s highly critical statement.
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