Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) -Businesses in The Gambia continue to face lengthy delays in obtaining registration certificates, with some applicants reportedly waiting between three and six months as government grapples with persistent technical problems affecting the registration system.
The issue was highlighted during an episode of Coffee Time with Peter Gomez, where concerns were raised with the Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, over the difficulties many entrepreneurs are facing in securing business registration documents.
Responding to the concerns, Dr. Ceesay acknowledged that the government was aware of the problem, revealing that he had already discussed the matter with the Minister of Justice after receiving similar complaints from members of the public.
“I have engaged the Minister of Justice on this because I also received complaints from the public about this particular problem,” he said, explaining that the delays stem from technical issues affecting the registration system.
The minister said instructions had already been issued to resolve the problem, adding that he believed the matter had been addressed.
“I thought it was already solved. If it has not been fixed, I will immediately engage the minister again,” he said.
Businesses Feel the Impact
The prolonged delays have frustrated entrepreneurs and business owners, many of whom depend on registration certificates to formalise their businesses, access financial and government services, and comply with regulatory requirements.
Dr. Ceesay stressed that such bottlenecks undermine the government’s efforts to improve the country’s investment climate.
“The Gambia is not to be a business-friendly country if anything impedes businesses from operating,” he said.
Uncertainty Over Backlog
Despite the government’s assurances, questions remain about the scale of the backlog, the number of businesses affected, and when normal processing times will be restored.
Business registration is a fundamental requirement for operating legally in The Gambia, and prolonged delays risk slowing business start-ups, expansion plans, and broader private sector growth.
The government is expected to provide further updates on the status of the registration system and the measures being taken to clear the backlog of pending applications.
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