Fact-Check: Was President Barrow’s Remarks About The Banjul Rehabilitation Project ‘Entirely’ Correct?

Claim 1: The contractor of the Banjul Rehabilitation Project requested to be paid in Dalasi Source: President Adama Barrow Verdict: The claim is false One of the flagship infrastructure projects undertaken by the administration of President Adama Barrow is the US$36 million Banjul Rehabilitation Project. The single-sourced project was criticized for flouting basic procurement regulations. Claim In his recent interview on QTV’s State of Affairs programme, the Gambian leader claimed the contractor of the project, Haddim Gai, requested to be paid in dalasi while submitting his proposals to him at State House. “When he came to my office, what he told me, it was too good...

August 13, 2021Factchecking
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Fact-Check: Gambia’s GDP Currently Growing At 6% ?

Claim: Gambia’s GDP currently growing at 6% + Source: President Adama Barrow Verdict: Inaccurate President Adama Barrow in a recent interview on the State of Affairs television programme on the QTV, said the Gambian economy is growing at “6% plus”. The current government took over the reins of government under very difficult circumstances after the outgoing Yahya Jammeh administration refused to willingly relinquish power. This prompted a regional military intervention in The Gambia which subsequently affected tourism- a major income earner for the country. Business activities were also temporarily halted, which in turn negatively affected the economy. The country was also struggling with a very high, unsustainable...

August 9, 2021Factchecking
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Fact-Check: President Barrow Claims Tax Revenue Has Increased By Over 100% Under His Administration

Claim: Tax revenue has increased by over 100% since 2017 Source: President Adama Barrow Verdict: FALSE President Adama Barrow in a recent interview on the State of Affairs television programme on QTV, claimed tax collection by Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) has increased under his administrations by over 100%. The Gambia is gearing up for Presidential elections in December, a crucial democratic exercise for citizens to pass verdict on the current administration that took over the mantle of governance after years of dictatorship in 2017. President Barrow ahead of the election continues to defend the performance of his administration and is touting his achievements. But how true is...

August 6, 2021Factchecking
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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...

August 1, 2021Factchecking
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