Bensouda Urges Barrow to Respect Jawara and Jammeh’s Development Legacies

By Seedy Jobe

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of Kanifing Municipality and presidential candidate of Coalition 2026, has called on President Adama Barrow to stop diminishing the development records of his predecessors, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara and Yahya Jammeh, arguing that their contributions laid the foundation for many of the projects and institutions the current administration relies upon.

“If you cannot thank them, just leave them alone,” Bensouda said during a political rally in Bwiam, Foni, responding to President Barrow’s recent claim that his administration had accomplished more than those of Jawara and Jammeh combined.

Bensouda challenged the president’s assessment, pointing to several major infrastructure projects undertaken by previous administrations.

He credited the Jawara administration with constructing State House, Banjul International Airport, key roads and bridges in the capital, and the ferry terminal connecting Banjul to Barra.

Turning to Jammeh’s 22-year presidency, Bensouda cited the Trans-Gambia Highway, Jabang Highway, the initial construction of the Farafenni Bridge, and the Faraba campus of the University of The Gambia as examples of development projects undertaken before Barrow assumed office.

Although he was young during Jawara’s presidency, Bensouda said he had personally witnessed several projects initiated under Jammeh, including the construction of pillars for the Farafenni Bridge.

He also argued that several infrastructure projects associated with The Gambia’s hosting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit originated from agreements signed during Jammeh’s administration, even though Barrow has presided over their inauguration.

Beyond infrastructure, Bensouda criticized Barrow over his continued pursuit of the presidency, accusing him of abandoning earlier commitments to constitutional reform and presidential term limits.

He recalled that Barrow had previously criticized former presidents for remaining in office too long and had promised to introduce a constitution limiting presidents to two terms.

According to Bensouda, Barrow initially served three years under a transitional arrangement, completed a five-year term, and subsequently secured another five years in office. He argued that the president’s pursuit of another term contradicted his earlier position on limiting presidential tenure.

“That is why I said President Barrow is a lorry without brakes,” Bensouda remarked, using the analogy to criticize what he described as the president’s unwillingness to relinquish power.

Bensouda concluded by urging Gambians to take responsibility for the country’s political and economic future.

He outlined his vision of a government focused on poverty reduction, economic opportunity, and transparent leadership, saying Gambians should be able to build prosperous lives in their own country without feeling compelled to migrate in search of better opportunities.

He said his ambition was to create a Gambia where citizens could be born, raised and succeed economically under leadership committed to accountability and national development.