By Fatou Sillah
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, The Gambia’s Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, said Gambians often focus more on the country’s shortcomings than on its achievements, arguing that public discourse tends to emphasize failures while overlooking signs of progress.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay described Gambians as “fault finders,” saying many citizens are quick to criticize what is not working without acknowledging government investments and improvements in key sectors.
“I’ve realized one thing: we Gambians always like to focus on what is not working. We are fault finders,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay pointed to the health sector as an example, arguing that public perception is often shaped by isolated experiences, such as patients being unable to obtain a particular medication, rather than by broader developments within the healthcare system.
He said the government has invested in medical equipment, expanded health facilities, and strengthened specialist training, adding that while challenges remain, they should not overshadow the progress that has been made.
The minister acknowledged that the country’s healthcare system, like many others, continues to face difficulties but maintained that those shortcomings do not negate ongoing improvements.
He also dismissed assertions that The Gambia is moving backward, insisting that the country continues to make progress despite persistent challenges.
“Nobody can tell me that the country is going backwards or that it is stagnant,” Dr. Ceesay said. “The country is moving. You can question the pace; you can be impatient with the pace at which we are moving, but the country is moving in a direction, and that is a fact.”
His remarks come amid continued public debate over the government’s performance, with critics pointing to economic pressures, public service delivery, and governance issues, while officials argue that steady progress is being made across multiple sectors.
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