Independent Presidential Aspirant Bakary Badjie Pledges to Fight Corruption, Criticizes State Land Allocations

By Makutu Manneh

Bakary K. Badjie, an independent presidential aspirant and National Assembly Member for Foni Bintang Karanai, has pledged to tackle corruption and restore accountability in public office, arguing that widespread misuse of public resources continues to undermine The Gambia’s development.

Speaking to journalists on Friday after submitting his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Mr. Badjie said the country had reached a critical point that required citizens to look beyond political parties and ethnic affiliations when choosing their next leader.

He emphasized that nation-building was a collective responsibility and urged Gambians to carefully consider the character and competence of those seeking public office.

“Building a nation is never an easy task, but we must know the kind of individual we trust with the mandate of leadership,” he said.

Mr. Badjie described The Gambia as a nation at a crossroads, citing mounting public debt, inadequate infrastructure, and the high cost of maintaining government institutions as evidence of persistent governance challenges.

He claimed that the country’s public debt had reached D144 billion and that approximately 50 percent of public institutions operated from rented premises.

Against that backdrop, he challenged Gambians to reflect on the future they wanted for themselves and their children.

The independent aspirant also pointed to challenges in healthcare delivery, low salaries, and unreliable electricity as indications that the country continued to struggle with basic development needs.

He attributed many of these problems to corruption, which he said had become deeply entrenched in public administration.

“The Gambia has undoubtedly turned a blind eye to corruption,” Mr. Badjie said.

He specifically criticized the allocation of state land to senior public officials, including National Assembly members, ministers, the president, and the vice president, describing the practice as an injustice that undermined equitable national development.

“One of the reasons is, you look at the distribution of state lands among members of Parliament, ministers, the president, and the vice president. That is an injustice for a nation that wants to develop,” he said.

Mr. Badjie argued that addressing corruption would free up resources and create opportunities for investment in productive sectors, particularly agriculture, which he identified as an important driver of national development.

He urged Gambians to demand integrity and accountability from their leaders, emphasizing that public office should be regarded as a responsibility to serve rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment.

The independent presidential aspirant maintained that meaningful national progress would require a fundamental change in leadership priorities, with greater emphasis on public service, responsible management of national resources, and the welfare of ordinary citizens.

He called on Gambians to approach the upcoming December 5 presidential election with a renewed sense of national responsibility, arguing that the country’s future depended on electing leaders committed to fighting corruption and advancing development.