H.E Adama Barrow, President of the Republic of The Gambia
By Fatou Sillah
President Adama Barrow has called on Gambian youth to prioritize working and building their lives within the country, rather than relying solely on migration to Europe. Speaking at a gathering in Bantanding Wollof, addressing communities from Upper Niumi, Lower Niumi, and Jokadou Constituencies, the President used his own life as an example to illustrate the potential of success at home.
President Barrow recounted his decision to return to The Gambia in 2006 after spending just three years in Europe. Despite skepticism from his peers, he started a business with $2,000, which he said grew into a multimillion-dalasi enterprise before he became President.
“When I told my colleagues in Europe that I was going back home, they thought something was wrong with me. They asked, ‘With the hardship in The Gambia and Yahya Jammeh in power, why would you return?’ I told them, if we all think like this, The Gambia will never progress,” he said.
Barrow highlighted the success of his decision: “Within ten years, I built five compounds, bought 20 plots of land, and had millions in my bank account. Some of my colleagues who stayed in Europe eventually came back to work for me. This shows that going to Europe is not the only way to succeed. Hard work, wherever you are, can lead to a decent life.”
The President stressed that while migration can benefit families and the country through remittances, a mass exodus of youth would harm The Gambia’s development.
“We need to be mindful of our choices. While it’s important for our people to travel and work abroad to support their families back home, we must carefully consider the impact. The strength of our country lies in its youth. If we encourage all our young people to move to Spain or other places, we risk facing challenges here at home. The work that needs to be done locally will suffer. Some can go abroad, but others should remain to contribute here. People often overlook this reality—they see someone who went to Europe, lived in a modest hut before leaving, and then returned to build a house. They conclude that Europe is the solution. But how many people in Europe struggle to achieve anything back home? We must think critically and plan wisely.”
He said, “Some people are here, earning more than those in Europe. People often focus only on the financial aspect, but how many of them have their wives and children with them? Those children are no longer truly Gambian. Even when their parents try to bring them back for holidays, they refuse. They don’t know the language or the culture. They will never return to the Gambia. But when their father passes away, they bring the body here to be buried. Is that the reason we should go to Europe? We should be able to go, come back, and work for our country.”
“We need to be patient. We will support those who can go, but for those who didn’t have that opportunity, understand that it just wasn’t your time. You can still work and earn here,” he added.
The president made these remarks during his first meeting of the 2024 “Meet the People” tour.