{"id":91716,"date":"2025-12-10T15:43:27","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T15:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/uncategorized\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis"},"modified":"2025-12-10T16:07:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T16:07:49","slug":"gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis","title":{"rendered":"Gambia’S 2026 Budget Reaches D55.3 Billion Amid Debt Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. <\/strong><\/span>The Gambia has announced a D55.3 billion national budget for 2026, presented to the National Assembly on Friday by Finance Minister Seedy Keita.<\/b><\/p>\n

The spending plan, which the government says is aimed at improving citizens\u2019 quality of life, comes as the country\u2019s public debt climbs to a record D129.5 billion, driven by domestic borrowing and currency depreciation.<\/p>\n

Minister Keita said the 2026 budget prioritizes macroeconomic stability, structural reforms, and stronger public financial management. Human capital sectors \u2014 Health, Education, and Agriculture \u2014 account for D18.6 billion, more than 35 percent of total expenditure and the highest such allocation in the nation\u2019s history.<\/p>\n

The government projects real GDP growth of 5.9 percent in 2025, up from 5.6 percent in 2024 and above the Sub-Saharan African average. Inflation has eased from 10 percent in September 2024 to 7 percent by October 2025, while the dalasi has stabilized on the back of rising remittances and tourism earnings.<\/p>\n

Revenue reforms are also yielding results, with domestic tax receipts surpassing targets. The tax-to-GDP ratio is expected to increase from 12 percent in 2025 to 13.2 percent in 2026, though it remains below regional benchmarks. The fiscal deficit is projected to narrow to 1 percent of GDP next year, a move the minister said supports debt sustainability and reduces reliance on borrowing.<\/p>\n

Major infrastructure spending includes ongoing 355-kilometre road projects, expanded solar-based and regional electricity generation, and continued modernization of Banjul\u2019s port and airport. In the agriculture sector, the government plans to provide D900 million in subsidies for seeds and fertilizers, as well as equity support to the National Food Security Corporation.<\/p>\n

Social development programs will also see increased funding, including expanded healthcare coverage, stronger education initiatives, and targeted assistance for vulnerable groups, youth, and women. The Social Protection Agency reported full coverage of the national social registry, making The Gambia the only Sub-Saharan African country with comprehensive data for targeted welfare programs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis budget reflects our determination to invest in the future of Gambians, even amid fiscal constraints,\u201d Minister Keita said, emphasizing the government\u2019s focus on inclusive growth, improved public services, and strengthened social safety nets.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Gambia<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia has announced a D55.3 billion national budget for 2026, presented to the National Assembly on Friday by Finance Minister Seedy Keita. The spending plan, which the government says is aimed at improving citizens\u2019 quality of life, comes as the country\u2019s public debt climbs to a record D129.5 billion, driven by […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":91715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[260],"class_list":["post-91716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-gambia"],"yoast_head":"\nGambia'S 2026 Budget Reaches D55.3 Billion Amid Debt Crisis - Gambia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Gambia has announced a D55.3 billion national budget for 2026, presented to the National Assembly on Friday by Fi ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gambia'S 2026 Budget Reaches D55.3 Billion Amid Debt Crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Gambia has announced a D55.3 billion national budget for 2026, presented to the National Assembly on Friday by Fi ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Gambia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-10T15:43:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-10T16:07:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/12\/sm_1765370208.827265.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1284\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"618\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Gambia’S 2026 Budget Reaches D55.3 Billion Amid Debt Crisis\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-10T15:43:27+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-10T16:07:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\"},\"wordCount\":358,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/gambia\/sites\/19\/2025\/12\/sm_1765370208.827265.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Gambia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Economy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/gambia\/all-news\/gambias-2026-budget-reaches-d55-3-billion-amid-debt-crisis\",\"name\":\"Gambia'S 2026 Budget Reaches D55.3 Billion Amid Debt Crisis - 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