Factsheet: Gambia’s Debt To GDP Ratio Has Declined, But Does It Mean Prez Barrow Has Not Been Borrowing?

In his recent interview with the State of Affairs television programme on QTV, the Gambian leader Adama Barrow suggested his government has managed the country’s debt well by reducing it. “Our debt to GDP used to be 120%. Today, it is around 77%,” said President Barrow as he recounts his achievements. Rebasing of GDP It is accurate that Gambia’s public debt to GDP ratio was at 120% by the end of 2016. It is also correct that the current debt to GDP ratio is at 77.2%, according to the International Monetary Fund. But after the regime change in 2017, the government of Adama Barrow rebased the GDP, which led to a revision of the...