By Fatou Sillah
The Chairman of QGroup, Muhammed Jah, has emphasized that The Gambia’s long-term development must be led by its own citizens, stressing that sustainable progress depends on local ownership, investment, and a shift in national mindset amid growing global uncertainty.
Speaking at the unveiling of the QGroup Smart House, Jah underscored the importance of empowering Gambian businesses to take a leading role in the country’s economic transformation.
“Others may come, and they are welcome, but I believe that only Gambians can develop the Gambia,” he said. “Gambians and Gambian businesses should be in the forefront of our economy and should be given the utmost support by the government to not only participate but to lead in order to achieve meaningful and lasting development.”
Jah further highlighted the need for national ownership across key sectors, noting that true sovereignty extends beyond infrastructure to include economic and technological independence.
“It is the conviction that we, as a people, must take ownership of our destiny, economically, technologically, and nationally. It is about sovereignty not just of data and infrastructure but of mindset,” he stated.
Reflecting on recent global developments, Jah pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a clear demonstration of the risks associated with overdependence on external systems.
“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed how fragile dependency can be. Supply chains from fuel to food to freight remain uncertain and vulnerable to disruptions far beyond our borders,” he said.
He observed that many nations are increasingly adopting inward-looking policies, making self-reliance a strategic necessity rather than a political slogan.
“Country first is no more a rhetoric; it’s a policy. For a country like Gambia, “Sunu Buss” it is not optional; it is essential. It is the difference between vulnerability and resilience, between dependency and dignity,” he added.
Jah stressed that national development must be anchored in local investment and value creation. “When we build, we retain value. When we own, we create jobs. When we invest locally, we are strengthening the very foundation of our economy.”
He identified mindset as the greatest barrier to progress, rather than a lack of resources.“The greatest constraint to the development of our country is not lack of resources. It is the ceiling we place on our own expectations,” he noted.
Jah concluded by calling on Gambians to raise their ambitions and hold both themselves and their leaders to higher standards.
“This is an invitation to think bigger, to demand more, to expect better from ourselves, from our institutions, and from those who lead us,” he said.
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