By Fatou Sillah
Gambia’s Minister of Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, Hamat N.K. Bah, on Friday called on Muslim Imams to pray for President Adama Barrow’s victory in the 2026 elections, praising the president’s leadership as a source of “peace and prosperity” for the country.
Speaking at the State House during Mr. Barrow’s meeting with imams and Muslim elders, Mr. Bah argued that the president’s continued leadership was essential for national stability.
“Since he came to power, we have seen peace and prosperity,” Mr. Bah said. “If you have somebody like that, you should pray for the person to stay, because the person you know and see what he is doing is better than somebody you don’t know. Pray for him so that Allah can give him victory.”
He also urged Imams to pray for a peaceful electoral season as the country approaches the 2026 vote.
Mr. Bah pointed to what he described as improved price stability during this year’s Ramadan, saying the cost of basic commodities had remained steady compared to the previous year.
“For the first time in the history of the country, we did not see an increase in the price of things during Ramadan,” he said, noting that the price of rice had fallen from above 2,000 dalasis to about 1,600. He added that meat, bread, and other staples had also seen no price hikes.
“That is what the president promised us last year — that we would not see an increase in the price of basic commodities — and that is what he did,” Mr. Bah said.
The minister also commended Gambian youth groups for preparing and distributing iftar meals throughout Ramadan, calling the efforts “a great thing for the country.”
He further noted that the ministry had not observed inflammatory sermons from imams this year and said preparations for the annual Hajj pilgrimage were complete, emphasizing that the government was acting in the best interests of Gambian pilgrims
Comments are closed.