By Makutu Manneh
Yankuba Darboe, the chairman of the Brikama Area Council and a senior executive of the opposition United Democratic Party, has accused the government of President Adama Barrow of selling off key national assets, warning residents of Basse that their region could soon face a similar fate.
Speaking at a United Democratic Party rally during the party’s nationwide tour in Basse, Mr. Darboe alleged that the government had already disposed of major public assets, including the Senegambia Bridge, the Gambia Ports Authority, Gamcel, Mega Bank, and Mile 2 Prison.
“Very soon, they will sell Basse,” he told the crowd, urging residents to remain vigilant.
Mr. Darboe said the alleged sale of state assets had deepened economic hardship, particularly for young people, and contributed to the surge in irregular migration. He recalled that when Mr. Barrow was elected, many young Gambians had expressed hope of finding work at home rather than risking the dangerous “backway” journey to Europe.
“But because of the misuse of our wealth, the youth are embarking on the backway,” he said, claiming that 1,600 young people died in 2024 while attempting irregular migration.
Looking ahead to the 2026 elections, Mr. Darboe called on Gambians to show compassion for one another and to recognize the scale of suffering across the country. He argued that the nation’s economic problems could be resolved through better management of public finances, including settling debts and prioritizing development.
He also criticized what he described as the government’s lack of sensitivity to the rising cost of living. Mr. Darboe said President Barrow often highlighted investments in road construction while overlooking the daily struggles of ordinary Gambians to afford basic food items.
“He tells people he spent billions on roads,” Mr. Darboe said. “If those billions were used to produce rice, would we be buying rice?”
Mr. Darboe further blamed the government for the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority’s recent announcement of a data price floor of 50 dalasis, describing the decision as another example of policies that burden citizens.
In one of his strongest accusations, Mr. Darboe claimed that the government had recently taken more than one billion dalasis from Gambians under the pretext of settling debts owed to Karpowership, the Turkish energy firm supplying electricity to the country. He said Karpowership had indicated that no outstanding debt was owed.
“This is the stealing we are aware of,” he said. “How many others are we not aware of?”