By Fatou Sillah
Honorable Alamameh Gibba, National Assembly Member for Foni Kansala representing the APRC No To Alliance, has criticized President Adama Barrow’s recent State of the Nation Address, asserting that the speech failed to reflect the realities facing Gambians. He said key challenges across governance, health, security, and the cost of living were largely overlooked.
“Examining the speech in detail, it is evident that there is a significant gap between the issues highlighted by the President and the actual conditions in various sectors,” Hon. Gibba stated.
He further described the address as appearing more like a recitation of a report rather than a substantive engagement with national issues. While acknowledging some infrastructural improvements, he argued that the President did not adequately address ongoing challenges in service delivery.
“In the health sector, there have been some infrastructural developments. However, the speech did not address the critical needs regarding systems, equipment, and standards required to make healthcare services functional,” he noted. He added that the address lacked clear plans to strengthen resources, improve equipment, and build human capacity within the healthcare system.
On security, Hon. Gibba questioned the President’s claim that The Gambia is among the safest countries in the region, noting that incidents of crime and insecurity were not addressed. “He stated that The Gambia is one of the four safest countries in West Africa. I am not sure where that statistic comes from. We continue to witness robberies and murders across the country, yet these issues are ignored,” he said.
He also criticized the President for not acknowledging security challenges in Foni, particularly cross-border tensions that have disrupted communities. According to Hon. Gibba, ongoing conflicts between the MFDC and Senegalese forces have displaced residents, with many unable to observe Eid prayers due to the instability.
“Foni is part of The Gambia, and he must address the abnormalities, the behavior, the uncalled-for, and the continuous landing of shells and bullets onto the Gambian soil that is not addressed by him,” he stressed.
Hon. Gibba also highlighted economic concerns, particularly the rising cost of living, and questioned the government’s plans to mitigate the impact on citizens. “The President seems to have delivered a speech that does not reflect the realities on the ground. People are facing skyrocketing prices with no concrete plan in sight,” he said.
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