Darboe Vows to Scrap Presidential Adviser Posts, Cut Government Spending if Elected

By Fatou Sillah

Ousainou Darboe, leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP) and presidential candidate of the Gambia First Coalition, has pledged to abolish political adviser positions and eliminate what he described as wasteful government spending if his coalition wins the December 2026 presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with Eye Africa, Darboe said a UDP-led administration would review the 2027 national budget, identify unnecessary expenditures, and redirect public funds toward essential services, particularly healthcare.

“These are political compensations. You want to give jobs to people and be a heavy burden on our treasury. We will remove all that,” Darboe said, describing some presidential advisory appointments as politically motivated positions that place an unnecessary financial burden on taxpayers.

He questioned the justification for maintaining multiple political advisers at the presidency, arguing that their responsibilities often overlap with those of cabinet ministers.

Darboe specifically challenged the need for a presidential adviser on youth affairs when the government already has a minister responsible for youth matters. He maintained that cabinet ministers should be capable of advising the president on issues within their respective portfolios.

The veteran opposition leader also raised concerns about the operational costs associated with presidential advisers, particularly the fuel expenses of vehicles assigned to them. He claimed that these expenditures run into millions of Dalasi annually, money he said could instead be invested in improving the country’s healthcare system.

Addressing questions about how his administration would accommodate coalition partners if political advisory positions were eliminated, Darboe insisted that members of the Gambia First Coalition were united by a commitment to national development rather than the prospect of government appointments.

“Our coalition partners agree that wasting on unnecessary spending must stop. We cannot allow it to continue,” he said.

He maintained that coalition partners understood the need for fiscal discipline and were not joining the alliance merely to secure positions in a future government.

Darboe also criticized President Adama Barrow’s ongoing Meet the People Tour, accusing the administration of using public resources to advance the political interests of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP).

He alleged that the constitutionally mandated presidential tour had effectively been turned into a political campaign financed by taxpayers, describing the alleged misuse of state resources as grounds for parliamentary action.

“In any serious country, if we have a serious parliament, there would be impeachment proceedings for misusing our resources,” Darboe said.

His allegations were not independently established in the account of the interview.

Despite his criticism, Darboe said his administration would retain the Meet the People Tour but substantially reduce its cost by limiting the size of the presidential delegation.

He argued that there was little justification for ministers to accompany the president on such visits when regional government officials could provide the necessary briefings and information.

Darboe said he would instead engage directly with regional directors and local officials, allowing cabinet ministers to remain focused on their responsibilities.

He indicated that his administration would seek to limit expenditure on the tour to approximately D5 million, presenting the proposal as part of a broader effort to reduce government overhead and prioritize public services.

The pledges form part of Darboe’s proposed approach to public spending as he seeks the presidency under the Gambia First Coalition banner.