Ebrima Njie, the communications and information officer at the National Population Commission Secretariat, has outlined the low contraceptive practice, poor access to health services, pro-natalistic culture, early marriage, low level of female education, among others, as the major factors contributing to the population growth rate.

He made these remarks recently, during an interview with the Daily Observer at his office in Banjul. According to him, these indicators are considered unsatisfactory in order to attain sustainable development. "Government and the people of The Gambia recognised the need to address these population and development issues. To that end, a National Population Policy was formulated in a participatory manner and a programme of action developed", he remarked.

Commenting on the implications of population growth, Njie further said, the increase in population with an unequal increase in the available resources has a tremendous impact on food security and energy. According to him, population is at the core of every development plan, policy and action, noting that an excessive population is problematic for economic, socio and environmental resources. "A declining, ageing, youthful or indeed an unhealthy population poses problems for development," he added.

Njie highlighted some key challenges that face population and development; such as: high urbanisation rate, poor data collection and utilisation, weak integration of population variables into development planning, poor level of educational development and high level of gender disparity and increasing poverty.