Gambia Roundup: $3.5bn development plan, national dialogue, maternal mortality

$3.5 billion development plan

President Adama Barrow of The Gambia introduced a new development initiative known as the Recovery Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP), marking a significant shift from the previous National Development Plan (NDP). The launch took place at the State House in Banjul, Foroyaa reports. The previous NDP covered the period from 2018 to 2021, while the RF-NDP is designed for the period spanning 2023 to 2027. The new plan is aptly named "YIRIWAA," signifying 'development' in one of the national languages. “This plan succeeds the last National Development Plan (NDP) for 2018–2021, and it is the second plan during my presidency. While implementing the previous plan, my government employed numerous measures to stabilise the economy, restore public confidence, and strengthen democratic institutions. Despite this, we recognise the urgency to do more, especially in terms of resilience building. Thus, the formulation of the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) will foster sustainable and resilient development,” he said. 

Banknotes withdrawal

The Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG) has outlined its initiatives to remove old and damaged currency notes from circulation. In an interview with Foroyaa, officials from the bank revealed that they have been actively collaborating with commercial banks, rural communities, and various stakeholders as part of their efforts to withdraw these notes. The Head of the Currency Unit at CBG, Bai Abi Jobe, stated that in the previous year, the bank conducted meetings with the heads of the operation units of commercial banks in the Gambia to address the issue of old and damaged currency notes. ‘‘The CBG will continue to engage commercial banks to establish sorting units so that they can sort out old family and damaged bank notes and deposit them at the Central Bank. ‘We have come up with a strategy to remove the old banknotes. The removal of the notes is a process, and this is ongoing steadily,’’ he said. Jobe further emphasized that the Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG) has refrained from setting a specific deadline for the withdrawal of old and damaged banknotes. This decision is aimed at preventing any potential panic among the public, a phenomenon observed in other countries during similar currency transitions. Instead, the CBG has established a Clean Note policy, urging all financial institutions to comply with its guidelines.

Maternal mortality

The Board of Bansang General Hospital Management has revealed that a total of 146 pregnant women lost their lives at the hospital between 2016 and 2020. This disclosure was made during the presentation of their activity report and financial statements, specifically on the Health Statistical Report component, before the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) of the National Assembly, Foroyaa reports. The board said “7266 pregnant women with complications were admitted to the hospital from 2016–2020, and out of that, 146 died due to some pregnancy conditions. The number of 34 maternal deaths in 2016 has decreased by 14.1 per cent from 34 to 20. The leading cause of the maternity deaths was bleeding (45.8 per cent), followed by eclampsia in 25 cases, severe malaria in 20 cases, and sepsis in 13 cases, respectively.” In the activity report for the period spanning 2020 to 2022, the Board emphasized that Bansang General Hospital is providing healthcare services to an estimated population exceeding 600,000 individuals, both locally and beyond national borders.

Anti-FGM law

Gambian Member of Parliament, Almameh Gibba, is set to introduce a bill aimed at repealing the ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). According to a press release published in a newspaper on February 6, 2024, the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly has issued a statement outlining the general nature and objectives of the Women’s (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Standard has reported. The proposed bill marks a significant development in the ongoing legislative discourse surrounding FGM in the region. A public notice about the new bill issued by the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly this week stated, “This bill seeks to lift the ban on female circumcision in The Gambia, a practice deeply rooted in the ethnic, traditional, cultural, and religious beliefs of the majority of the Gambian people. It seeks to uphold religious purity and safeguard cultural norms and values. The current ban on female circumcision is a direct violation of citizens’ rights to practice their culture and religion as guaranteed by the Constitution. Given The Gambia’s predominantly Muslim population, any law that is inconsistent with the aspirations of the majority of the people should be reconsidered."

National Dialogue

President Adama Barrow has hosted the first-ever National Dialogue for Political Parties with the participation of fourteen political party leaders out of the nineteen registered political parties in The Gambia. The historic event, organized at State House, marked a significant milestone in the country's political history, being the first such initiative led by a sitting head of state, Gainako reports. The theme of the dialogue, "Our collective responsibility in preserving the nation, safeguarding the state, and securing our resources," set the stage for discussions on crucial aspects of national development. The areas of discussion at the first round of dialogue included the political environment for sustainable peace and stability, religious tolerance for social cohesion, ethnic diversity for national unity, securing sovereignty, safeguarding stability and well-being, the media's role in safeguarding the democratic space, and addressing irregular migration and empowerment. The follow-up national dialogue on February 16, 2024, just two days before Independence Day, is expected to build on the outcomes of the initial discussions.