Kemo Bojang, Youth Counselor KMC
The Government of The Gambia’s reaction to the Afrobarometer survey shows a clear attempt to dodge responsibility and cover up the harsh realities Gambians face every day. Calling the survey “just perceptions” doesn’t change the fact that these views are based on real struggles, struggles that can’t be hidden behind fancy words and cherry-picked statistics.
The government’s claim that Afrobarometer’s methods aren’t reliable is just an excuse. Afrobarometer is a well-known and trusted research group that’s been doing surveys like this across Africa for years. Their process is fair, and the results reflect what people are actually going through. Calling it “subjective” is just a lazy way of brushing off the truth.
If the government really believes in data, it should admit that this survey matches what Gambians have been complaining about for years. People are dealing with high prices, unreliable electricity, poor access to clean water, and basic services that don’t work. It doesn’t matter how many roads you build or how much foreign investment you attract, people can’t eat statistics or survive on promises.
The government says healthcare has improved, but ask any Gambian and you’ll hear about hospitals without medicine and patients turned away because there’s no equipment or staff. Upgrading buildings means nothing if the services inside them are broken.
The same goes for the economy. The government brags about growth numbers, but what good is that if most people can’t even afford the basics? Inflation might have gone down a bit, but it’s still too high for a country where most people struggle to make ends meet.
And while the government boasts about roads and bridges, those don’t fix the bigger problems like joblessness, high food prices, and poor living standards. Infrastructure is nice, but it doesn’t fill empty stomachs or pay school fees.
The claim that security has improved doesn’t match what people experience. Crime is still a big problem, and many feel unsafe in their own homes. Blaming “misinformation” ignores the fact that Gambians are worried about real issues, not rumours.
At the end of the day, the government’s attempt to rubbish the Afrobarometer survey isn’t just an attack on data, it’s an insult to the people. Instead of brushing off criticism, they should listen and fix the problems. Gambians deserve real change, not excuses.
If the country is truly on the right track, like the government says, then it shouldn’t be afraid of criticism. Deflecting blame and hiding behind numbers won’t fool anyone. The truth is out, and no press release can cover it up.