Office of the Vice President - The Gambia

President Barrow Presides Over Cabinet Meeting Focused on Strengthening Governance and Accelerating Development

His Excellency President Adama Barrow today chaired a high-level Cabinet Meeting at State House in Banjul, bringing together senior government officials to deliberate on key national issues geared towards advancing development and strengthening governance across the country.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Mohammed BS Jallow the Vice President, Cabinet Ministers, the Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, the Chief of Staff, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet, and the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Discussions during the session focused on important government programmes, policy coordination, service delivery, and strategies aimed at accelerating socio-economic development and improving the welfare of Gambians. The meeting also underscored government’s commitment to accountability, effective leadership, and collaborative decision-making in addressing national priorities.

The Cabinet gathering reflects the administration’s continued resolve to foster sustainable development, strengthen institutional coordination, and ensure the effective implementation of policies and programmes that contribute to national progress and prosperity.

𝐕𝐏 𝐉𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞-𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫
𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒉, 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔

Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow on Wednesday concluded a landmark three-day nationwide field visit aimed at assessing government development projects and engaging communities across The Gambia. The tour, which commenced on Monday, 11 May, covered critical sectors including healthcare, agriculture, education, and disaster response.

Speaking to the media at the end of the tour, VP Jallow described the exercise as an annual oversight mechanism designed to give him and his team first-hand information on the implementation of government programmes. He said he was impressed with the level of work encountered during the visit, despite the short duration of the tour.

Among the highlights of the visit was the Fatoto Health Centre, which the Vice President described as a major transformation. He noted that both the community and the officer in charge of the facility have demonstrated strong readiness to receive the upgraded infrastructure, with officials even requesting the immediate handover of completed sections of the facility.

"That is very heartening to invest, and the recipients are ready to receive that investment," VP Jallow said. He added that the developments align directly with President Adama Barrow’s publicly stated commitment to making health services accessible to all Gambians by bringing them closer to their communities.

The Vice President also highlighted a project launched in Chamen during the tour, which he said would further support improvements in health facilities across the country. He emphasised that involving communities in identifying their own development needs leads to more meaningful and sustainable outcomes.

On the issue of electricity, VP Jallow confirmed that The Gambia has already surpassed 90% access coverage and expressed confidence that the country would meet President Barrow’s target of 100% electricity access by December 2026. He acknowledged that progress in one area naturally creates new demands from communities, citing examples of communities now requesting bus services and street lighting following the provision of roads and electricity.

Concluding his remarks, the Vice President commended the directors who accompanied him throughout the tour. He encouraged continued collaboration and teamwork under the Office of the Vice President, stressing the importance of institutions working together even when their day-to-day functions differ.

Vice Inspects Flood-Prone Communities in Upper River Region

Day two of a nationwide field visit sees top government officials survey hotspot areas in Giroba, Samba Tako, and Sabi ahead of the rainy season

His Excellency Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow visited three flood-prone communities in The Gambia's Upper River Region (URR) on the second day of an official field tour of project sites across the country. Accompanied by the Executive Director of the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), Mr. Sanna Dahaba, URR Governor Mr. Samba Bah, and members of the wider delegation, the Vice President toured the areas of Giroba, Samba Tako, and Sabi communities identified as recurring flood hotspots.

The visit forms part of an annual preparedness exercise jointly coordinated by the NDMA and the Office of the Vice President. The exercise is intended to identify vulnerable flood zones across the country before the onset of the rainy season, allowing government to plan targeted interventions in the most affected communities.

Speaking to the media following the site tour, NDMA Executive Director Mr. Sanna Dahaba welcomed the Vice President's participation and underscored the importance of early planning. "Every year, the NDMA, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, looks at what we call a preparedness plan to look at our flood-prone areas across the country. This is why we are embarking on this, so that we can adequately plan and prepare in anticipation for the rainy season," he said.

Dahaba further explained that the findings gathered during the visit would be brought back to Banjul, where the Vice President is expected to convene a meeting with engineers to deliberate on solutions for each affected community. "This is why we are in URR to look at the flood-prone areas, to look at some of the hotspots, so that when we go back, the Vice President can organise a meeting with the engineers, so that we can share those issues with them to see how best the government can address those issues in the community," he added.

The annual flood preparedness tours reflect a broader government strategy of proactive disaster risk management. The Gambia's low-lying river basin geography makes several communities vulnerable to seasonal flooding, with the Upper River Region among the areas historically most affected. The direct involvement of the Vice President signals a strong commitment from the highest levels of government to prioritise community protection ahead of the rains.

VP Jallow Visits Fatoto Hospital & Inaugurates Tumana Agency for Development in Basse!

His Excellency Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow today visited the ongoing rehabilitation works at Fatoto Hospital under the Vulnerable Youth and Women Support Project (VYWOSP) as part of his field visit to the Upper River Region.

VP Jallow also officially inaugurated the Tumana Agency for Development in Basse through the NSPA-VYWOSP, a landmark moment for communities in URR and CRR!

Speaking after the inauguration, NSPA Executive Director Mr. Saihou Jeng had this to say:

“I think progress has been made, especially considering our last visit. A lot of things have been happening on all the sites. Overall the impression has been great, and we look forward to keeping up with that momentum."

Mr. Jeng also emphasised how these interventions align directly with the Government of The Gambia's vision for human capital development, creating job opportunities, reducing irregular migration, and building resilience among vulnerable women and youth across the country.

His message to beneficiaries was clear and inspiring:

"Take advantage of the opportunity. Ensure that you make best use of it, build your capacity, your resilience, and become productive citizens that will serve this country."

Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient Gambia — one community at a time.

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