PAP’s Manneh Submits Nomination Papers, Says Barrow Government Is Taking Gambia Nowhere

By Makutu Manneh

Ebrima Tabora Manneh, leader of the People’s Alliance Party (PAP), on Sunday submitted his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) ahead of the December 5 presidential election, criticizing President Adama Barrow’s administration for what he described as its failure to move The Gambia forward.

Speaking to journalists after submitting his documents, Mr. Manneh said his party’s decision to enter the presidential race was driven by growing concerns over the country’s development trajectory under the current administration.

He argued that The Gambia continues to lag behind other African countries in key areas of development, despite its relatively small population and economic potential.

According to Mr. Manneh, the country’s population of fewer than three million people should make national development more manageable, provided the government adopts effective economic policies and prioritizes job creation.

Drawing a comparison with Singapore, which gained independence from Britain in the same year as The Gambia, Mr. Manneh questioned why the two countries had followed vastly different development paths.

“The Gambia has less than three million people and should be easy to develop. We gained independence in the same year as Singapore, with both countries colonized by the British, but today, in 2026, British citizens are leaving Britain for Singapore in search of employment, while Gambian youths are embarking on irregular migration,” he said.

Mr. Manneh cited the continued departure of young Gambians through irregular migration routes as evidence of the country’s limited economic opportunities and failure to create sufficient employment.

He further criticized the government’s performance across various sectors, arguing that the administration had failed to deliver meaningful progress.

The PAP leader maintained that sustainable national development depends on economic growth and the creation of productive employment opportunities, particularly for young people.

He said his party’s participation in the presidential election was motivated by the need to change the country’s economic direction and pursue policies capable of improving living standards and expanding opportunities for Gambians.