By Fatou Sillah
The National Assembly Member for Old Yundum Constituency and Deputy Majority Leader, Abdoulie Ceesay, said no government can completely eliminate the complex challenges facing a country, arguing that problems such as corruption, unemployment, and irregular migration persist in societies around the world and require sustained efforts rather than immediate solutions.
In an interview with Kerr Fatou, Mr. Ceesay said governing is inherently difficult and that any administration, regardless of who leads it, would confront many of the same national issues.
“Running a country is very difficult, and being a leader is not easy at all. Anybody who is leading, be it Adama Barrow, Ousainou Darboe or Talib Bensouda, things like unemployment, irregular migration, corruption, and other challenges will not disappear because it is not possible,” he said.
Mr. Ceesay’s remarks came as political parties continue to debate the government’s performance ahead of the 2026 presidential election, with corruption, youth unemployment, and migration remaining central issues in public discourse.
He acknowledged that corruption and other governance challenges remain realities in The Gambia but said governments should be evaluated on the measures they take to address those problems rather than on whether they eradicate them entirely.
“I cannot sit here and defend that there is no corruption. The challenges facing the country exist; that is the reality. But are we taking steps to make sure that we solve those issues? That is where I see things to say that we are moving as a country,” he said.
Mr. Ceesay also cautioned against making corruption allegations without evidence, saying successful prosecutions require proof and that strengthening institutions is a more effective approach to improving accountability and governance.
He described governance as a continuous process in which successive administrations build on reforms introduced by their predecessors. While expressing confidence that ongoing efforts to combat corruption and address other national challenges would continue, he said no administration should be expected to resolve such issues within a short period.
Instead, he argued, the country’s progress should be measured by the direction of reforms and the government’s commitment to addressing longstanding problems over time.
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