Dr. Gajigo Blames Central Government for Challenges Facing Municipalities

By Fatou Sillah

Dr. Ousman Gajigo, an economist and politician, has defended Kanifing Municipal Council Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda against criticism over the condition of markets and other problems in the municipality, arguing that many of the challenges facing local councils stem from inadequate funding and failures at the central government level.

Speaking in an interview with Kerr Fatou, Dr. Gajigo said deteriorating markets, poor roads, inadequate drainage, and other urban problems were not unique to the Kanifing municipality. Similar conditions, he said, could be found in Brikama, Basse, Kerewan and other parts of the country.

“The fact of the matter is, based on the level of local government responsibilities and decentralization, the financial means are not there for these local governments to address the real problems that these areas are facing,” he said.

Dr. Gajigo argued that some of the most pressing problems confronting municipalities extend beyond the boundaries and authority of any single council. Roads and drainage systems, for example, often cut across jurisdictions and require broader planning, financing, and coordination, he said.

He also called for greater attention to urban planning, describing the absence of a dedicated Ministry of Urban Planning as a significant weakness in a country experiencing rapid urbanization. A more coordinated approach to urban development, he said, would allow the government to tackle infrastructure and sanitation problems across municipal boundaries rather than addressing them in isolation.

“This requires central government action and central government coordination,” Dr. Gajigo said. “So all the problems that they are pointing out at the level of KMC, at the level of WCR, Banjul—or even if we extend it to everyone—these are a failure of the central government.”

Dr. Gajigo also drew a comparison between President Adama Barrow and Mayor Bensouda, arguing that political leaders should be judged by their records in public life as well as their understanding of the country’s problems.

He said he believed Mr. Bensouda had demonstrated a stronger understanding of the challenges facing the country than President Barrow had before assuming the presidency.

Ultimately, Dr. Gajigo said, voters would have an opportunity to weigh the records, policy proposals, and leadership credentials of those seeking to govern as The Gambia approaches its 2026 presidential election.