Claim

During a National People’s Party (NPP) political rally on 20 June 2026, broadcast on GRTS, the Minister of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, Hamat Bah, claimed that Gambian civil servants are “the most paid” in the sub-region.

The minister did not cite any data, study or official regional salary comparison to support the statement.

Malagen examined the available evidence to determine whether Gambian civil servants are indeed the highest paid in West Africa.

Why We Checked

Claims about public sector salaries are verifiable and carry significant public interest. Civil service pay influences government spending, recruitment, employee retention and public confidence in public institutions. When senior government officials make comparative claims about salaries across countries, those assertions should be supported by credible evidence.

To verify the minister’s statement, Malagen reviewed official government announcements, publicly available salary structures, international reports and comparative salary data for key public-sector professions in The Gambia and selected West African countries.

What the Evidence Shows

In 2025, the Gambian government implemented one of the largest salary adjustments for public servants in recent years. The package included a 30 per cent increase in basic salaries, a 100 per cent increase in transport allowances and a 105 per cent increase in residential allowances.

Government officials said the reforms were intended to improve the welfare of civil servants, address longstanding concerns over low wages and make public sector employment more competitive. The adjustments also came amid growing concerns over the loss of skilled professionals, particularly teachers and health workers, to the private sector and overseas labour markets.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its assessment of The Gambia’s economy, noted the salary reforms as part of broader efforts to bring public sector compensation closer to regional and Sub-Saharan African averages.

However, neither the government nor the IMF stated that the reforms made Gambian civil servants the highest paid in West Africa.

To assess whether the minister’s claim was supported by evidence, Malagen compared available salary data for comparable public-sector occupations, including teachers, nurses and police officers, in The Gambia and neighbouring countries.

Comparing Public Sector Salaries

Senegal

Available salary estimates compiled from Senegalese civil service pay scales and labour market data indicate that public servants in several key sectors generally earn more than their counterparts in The Gambia.

Elementary school teachers are reported to earn around 200,000 CFA francs per month (approximately D26,400). Secondary school teachers typically earn between 300,000 and 700,000 CFA francs (about D39,600 to D92,400), depending on their qualifications and years of experience. Entry-level police officers are also estimated to earn approximately 300,000 CFA francs (around D39,600) a month.

Ghana

Public sector salaries in Ghana are governed by the Single Spine Salary Structure, which standardises pay across most government institutions.

Available salary data indicates that entry-level public servants earn approximately 2,594 Ghanaian cedis per month, equivalent to about D16,859, with salaries increasing according to grade, experience and qualifications. The framework covers teachers, nurses, police officers and other categories of public servants.

The Gambia

Available salary data shows that following the 2025 salary reforms, public sector remuneration in The Gambia improved considerably.

Entry-level primary school teachers are estimated to earn between D8,000 and D14,000 per month, while experienced teachers earn between D18,000 and D28,000, depending on grade and years of service.

Secondary school teachers reportedly earn between D12,000 and D18,000 at entry level, with more experienced teachers earning between D20,000 and D35,000 monthly.

Registered nurses in public health facilities are estimated to earn around D12,000 or more per month, depending on rank, qualifications and years of service.

Police officers earn an estimated average monthly salary of about D8,900, although take-home pay varies depending on rank and allowances.

What the Comparison Shows

Direct salary comparisons across countries should be interpreted with caution because public sector pay structures differ significantly. Salaries are influenced by a range of factors, including grades, qualifications, years of experience, allowances, taxation and each country’s economic conditions.

Nevertheless, the available evidence does not support the claim that Gambian civil servants are the highest paid in the sub-region.

Across comparable occupations reviewed by Malagen, publicly available salary data shows that public servants in countries such as Senegal and in some categories Ghana, often earn higher salaries than their Gambian counterparts.

While The Gambia’s 2025 reforms significantly improved public sector pay, the available comparisons do not indicate that the increases placed Gambian civil servants above all others in West Africa.

Missing Evidence

No such evidence was presented when the claim was made.

Malagen contacted Minister Hamat Bah to request the data, study or analysis used to support his statement. No response had been received at the time of publication.

We will update this report if a response is received or if additional verified regional salary data becomes available.

Verdict: Unsupported

Malagen found no publicly available evidence to support that assertion.

Available salary comparisons also indicate that public servants in countries such as Senegal and Ghana often receive higher remuneration in comparable professions, including teaching, healthcare and law enforcement.

Based on the evidence reviewed, the claim that Gambian civil servants are the highest paid in the sub-region is unsupported.