By Seedy Jobe
The Minister of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, praised the government of President Adama Barrow on Saturday, framing the administration’s development initiatives as evidence of its achievements and dismissing opposition criticism as politically motivated.
Speaking at a foundation-laying ceremony for a new road in Kassa Kunda, Sillah projected confidence that by the 2026 elections, President Barrow’s accomplishments would outweigh partisan debates. “The construction of these roads, they are claiming, is not for consumption is what we are using to do our campaign,” he said, underscoring the government’s emphasis on infrastructure development.
Sillah accused opposition parties of obstructing progress, citing their rejection of the national budget, which he said was intended to advance the country’s development agenda. He urged Gambians to align with the National People’s Party (NPP) and President Barrow, emphasizing peace, growth, and a brighter future.
“The roads President Barrow is constructing, the electricity, schools, the water he’s bringing to people, the peace he brings, and the development he’s bringing here are being seen by the whole world,” Sillah said. He added that international institutions, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank, often reference The Gambia as a model.
Challenging the opposition’s portrayal of widespread hardship, Sillah emphasized that citizens must take responsibility for their own livelihoods, while the government’s role is to provide an enabling environment for work and development. “Even Allah, who created us, instructed people to go out and work,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s achievements, Sillah noted that the Ministry of Agriculture has over 700 gardens with water and solar, the Ministry of Fisheries has built over 150 boreholes, and 90% of communities have been electrified.
The minister’s comments come amid speculation about opposition alliances and leadership ahead of the 2026 elections.