“No Family Should Go Hungry”: EFF Gambia Unveils Six-Point Agenda on Jobs, Health, and Security

By Seedy Jobe

The newly launched Economic Freedom Fighters of The Gambia have unveiled a six-point policy agenda that includes pledges to reduce food prices, create jobs, provide free education and healthcare, ease the cost of living, and expand the country’s infrastructure.

Speaking at the movement’s official launch at the Kairaba Hotel on Saturday, EFF Gambia leader Prince Ebrima Sanyang presented the proposals as an alternative approach to addressing The Gambia’s economic and social challenges.

Food security is at the center of the movement’s agenda. Mr. Sanyang said an EFF-led government would establish “Freedom Stores” to provide subsidized essential commodities and create a national food buffer stock company to improve supplies and stabilize prices.

The movement also pledged greater support for farmers through agricultural machinery, irrigation, and cooperatives under what it calls a “One Village, One Cooperative” initiative. It also proposed establishing a national fishing company, which Mr. Sanyang said would create employment while increasing access to affordable food.

“The Gambia must feed itself,” Mr. Sanyang said.

On employment, EFF Gambia said it would make “zero unemployment” a national objective. Its proposals include a “One Ward, One Industry” program intended to decentralize production and create jobs in local communities, as well as efforts to develop a 24-hour economy.

The movement also promised startup grants for young people and women, community-based credit through a “One Ward, One Bank” initiative, and a financing program intended to help Gambians acquire taxis.

On education and healthcare, Mr. Sanyang pledged free, quality education and free healthcare, beginning with primary, maternal, and emergency care. The movement also proposed establishing a clinic in every village and providing an ambulance for every community.

Mr. Sanyang described education and healthcare as fundamental rights rather than privileges reserved for those who can afford them.

To ease pressure on households struggling with the cost of living, EFF Gambia proposed a monthly family relief package for low-income households and a monthly allowance of 1,500 dalasis for Gambians over the age of 60. The movement also pledged to introduce what it described as a living wage and expand access to affordable housing.

Its infrastructure proposals include making water, electricity, and internet services more affordable; providing a borehole for every village; improving roads; and introducing community bus services.

Mr. Sanyang also outlined several longer-term infrastructure ambitions, including the development of a national railway, a new international airport, a Gambian airline, and a national shipping line.

The sixth pillar of the agenda focuses on security and justice.

“No prosperity without security. No security without justice,” Mr. Sanyang said.

Under the proposal, EFF Gambia would seek to establish a police station in every community and a fire and rescue service in every district as part of broader efforts to strengthen policing and emergency response services.

The six-point agenda marks one of the movement’s first major policy declarations since its launch, setting out an ambitious platform spanning household economic relief, employment, public services, infrastructure and national security.