NDP Campaign Manager Accuses Barrow Government of Neglecting Ordinary Gambians

By Makutu Manneh

Sainey Manneh, campaign manager of the National Democratic Party (NDP), has accused President Adama Barrow’s administration of neglecting the needs of ordinary Gambians, particularly women and young people, while prioritizing the personal interests of government officials and their families.

Speaking at an NDP political rally in Wassu as part of the party’s ongoing nationwide tour, Mr. Manneh criticized the government’s handling of agriculture, youth unemployment, and irregular migration, arguing that its policies have done little to improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

He accused the administration of failing to adequately support farmers, citing remarks he attributed to the agriculture minister suggesting that ordinary Gambians did not need modern farming equipment.

Mr. Manneh further alleged that tractors acquired under former President Yahya Jammeh’s administration had been sold and that farmers were instead provided with donkeys, a move he characterized as evidence of the government’s disregard for agricultural development and rural livelihoods.

Turning to irregular migration, Mr. Manneh said women and young people had borne the brunt of the country’s economic difficulties, with many families enduring emotional distress as their relatives undertake dangerous journeys to Europe.

“Women and youth suffer the most in this country. Almost every woman in this gathering has a husband, child, nephew, niece, or grandchild who has embarked on irregular migration to Europe via the sea, a situation causing sleepless nights and high blood pressure among families,” he said.

He claimed that numerous Gambians had lost their lives in boat accidents along irregular migration routes during President Barrow’s tenure, accusing the administration of failing to take meaningful steps to address the circumstances driving young people to risk their lives at sea.

Mr. Manneh also criticized President Barrow’s recently concluded constitutional tour, arguing that what should have been an opportunity to hear citizens’ concerns and address their challenges had instead become a platform for political rhetoric and divisive statements.

He urged residents of Wassu and surrounding communities to rally behind NDP leader Kebba Madi Bojang in the upcoming presidential election, presenting him as an alternative capable of addressing the country’s economic difficulties and improving living conditions.

Mr. Manneh maintained that a government led by Mr. Bojang would prioritize the welfare of ordinary Gambians, particularly women, young people, and farmers, whom he said had been neglected under the current administration.