By Buba Gagigo
A recent survey conducted by Afrobarometer, a Pan-African, non-partisan research network, has revealed that 77% of Gambians believe the country is heading in the “wrong direction.” This marks a significant increase of 48 percentage points compared to 2018, when only 29% of respondents expressed the same concern.
Afrobarometer is dedicated to providing reliable data on African experiences, evaluating democracy, governance, and quality of life, with the aim of amplifying the voices of African citizens in policy and decision-making processes. The latest findings come just one week after a similar survey by the organization indicated that 68% of Gambians have considered leaving the country, representing a 12-point rise from 56% in 2018.
The previous survey highlighted economic struggles and the pursuit of better job opportunities as the primary reasons behind this consideration. In the most recent study, conducted in April and May 2024 by the Afrobarometer team in The Gambia, led by the Center for Research and Policy Development, 1,200 adult Gambians were interviewed.
“More than three-fourths (77%) of Gambians say the country is heading in “the wrong direction,” a 48-percentage-point increase since 2018 (29%). Only about two in 10 Gambians (19%) describe the country’s economic condition as “fairly good” or “very good,” a 39-point drop since 2018 (58%). Health is the most frequently cited problem that Gambians want the government to address, followed by increasing cost of living and crime and security. Approval ratings on indicators of the government’s economic performance have declined sharply compared to 2018 and 2021,” the report said.
The survey also highlighted several areas of improvement during President Barrow’s leadership, including increased freedom of speech (80%), greater youth participation in politics (69%), enhanced women’s involvement in politics (67%), stronger respect for human rights (65%), and better preservation of law and order (55%).
“However, more than two-thirds (68%) believe peace and security in the country have deteriorated. A majority of Gambians disapprove of the way the president (62%), members of Parliament (65%), and local government councillors (60%) have performed their jobs over the past 12 months,” the report said.
The survey also highlighted that citizens prioritize health, rising living costs, and crime/security as the three most pressing issues they want the government to address.
“Citizens express that the economic situation of the country has worsened compared to 2018 which definitely calls for swift intervention by government. Majorities report improvements during President Barrow’s tenure with regard to freedom of speech, youth participation in politics, women’s participation in politics, respect for human rights, and preservation of law and order,” the report revealed.