Editorial

The development of any nation is dependent on its economy.  Therefore, one would expect that the conspicuous development transformation The Gambia has undergone can only be credited to a parallel achievement in an economic sector that continues to receive a clean bill of health from international financial and monetary institutions around the world.

The recent confirmation by the IMF  that the Gambia economy is performing well is not surprising. It is an indication that the pace of development in this country is moving steadily in the right direction under the dynamic and visionary leadership of President Jammeh. Of course, we need not belabor on the fact that the president’s efforts are meant to break the shackles and other obstacles that led to the undesirable gross under-development of low income countries. His efforts therefore need to be complemented by all Gambians, regardless of political affiliation, so that the country can get to where it ought to be. No country can develop when her citizens turn a blind eye on salient issues and development challenges that face them.

The president’s desire to make the country an economic superpower can easily be attained when all and sundry come aboard, as the foundation for such a progress has already been built. Every Gambian has seen how, over the years, what was a traditionally agriculture-dependent economy has manifested promising tendencies towards industrialization, with a private sector driven by tourism, trading and fisheries, which are experiencing modest growth. Already, the banking and financial sector has been given a new outlook, with no sign of a halt to the inflow of more financial institutions.

Such pronouncements from the IMF demonstrate that government has done quite enough by paving the way for a prosperous Gambia; and should serve as a wake up call to Gambians that this country will ever continue to float in the ocean of growth and progress. The sustainability of the gains however lies entirely in the hands of the citizenry.

It is therefore a moral responsibility for Gambians, by any means necessary, to complement the efforts of the president in realising our economic superpower status. We are on track, and if we change our attitude for the good and merge our efforts towards the common good, our chances of success will be greater.