D2.23 billion for Foreign Affairs! More than four essential Ministries combined!
by Ndey Jobarteh
Know Your Budget: Part 2: The Gambia’s 2027 National Budget
Gambians, take a close look at the Government’s spending priorities in the 2027 National Budget!
According to the reported allocations approved by the National Assembly:
Agriculture: D1.77 billion!
Youth and Sports: D156.7 million!
Gender, Children and Social Welfare: D127.1 million!
Fisheries and Water Resources: D72.3 million!
Combined total: approximately D2.13 billion!
Foreign Affairs alone: D2.23 billion!
That is approximately D104 million more than these four ministries combined!
Now, here is the thing!
These four Ministries cover critical areas affecting food security, employment, women’s economic empowerment, social protection and the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Our farmers need machinery, fertilisers and financing!
Our young people need jobs!
Women need economic opportunities!
Our fishing communities need investment!
What does this allocation tell us about the Government’s spending priorities?
Is Foreign Affairs becoming a destination for Political Coalition Appointments?
President Barrow’s Political Coalition has expanded. This raises an important question about the relationship between political appointments and public expenditure.
Is the D2.23 billion Foreign Affairs allocation driven entirely by diplomatic needs, or does it also reflect appointments connected to the President’s political coalition?
How many Ambassadors and Diplomatic Officials have been appointed based on professional qualifications, and how many have political affiliations?
Has the cost of diplomatic appointments increased?
How much are taxpayers spending on salaries, allowances, accommodation, vehicles and official travel?
Are our Embassies serving the National Interest, or are political considerations influencing diplomatic appointments and expenditure?
The Government should publish a detailed breakdown of these costs and the criteria used for diplomatic appointments.
Why are we not reducing diplomatic expenditure?
At a time when The Gambia faces substantial debt-servicing obligations and limited financial resources, one would expect a serious review of the cost of maintaining our embassies and diplomatic missions.
Could some missions be consolidated?
Could administrative expenditure be reduced?
What measurable economic benefits are our diplomatic missions delivering?
Why should ordinary Gambians face increasing economic pressure without a clear explanation of what the government is doing to control its own operating costs?
Now, to our National Assembly Of The Gambia! You have approved this budget!
Did you examine why Foreign Affairs receives more than these four ministries combined?
Did you scrutinise diplomatic appointments, staffing costs and operating expenditure?
Did you demand evidence that the D2.23 billion allocation is justified by measurable diplomatic and economic benefits?
Your responsibility does not end with approving the budget!
Gambians deserve to know whether public resources are being allocated according to national development needs and whether diplomatic expenditure delivers value for money.
D2.23 billion for Foreign Affairs!
D2.13 billion for four essential Ministries combined!
Public money must serve the public interest, not political interests!
Public money!
Public priorities!
Public accountability!
#GambiaBudget2027#ForeignAffairs
