Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – President Adama Barrow has publicly accused civil servants of sabotaging his government’s development agenda by deliberately delaying tasks and prolonging cases, leading to public frustration and blame directed at his administration. Speaking to Muslim elders at State House during Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, the president also criticized the police for similar inefficiencies.

President Barrow attributed the civil service’s alleged obstruction to political motivations, claiming that some officials, while professing neutrality, secretly support opposition parties. Barrow also criticized the police for slow case resolutions, which he said exacerbate public dissatisfaction. However, his accusations have ignited a broader discussion about leadership and systemic issues within the Gambian public administration.

Fatu Camara, a prominent sociopolitical commentator and owner of the Fatu Network, echoed the President’s concerns regarding the civil service’s inefficiency but went further, highlighting widespread incompetence. “The civil service is not only undermining the government; there are also many incompetent employees within the system,” Camara stated. “Simple tasks take far too long, with many employees acting as if they are more important than the President.”

Camara called for a purge of unproductive and obstructive workers, advocating for greater accountability and a shift away from outdated bureaucratic practices. Comparing The Gambia’s administrative system to Western models, Camara lamented the outdated governance structures, arguing, “We require a system overhaul,” she emphasized, criticizing the reliance on personal connections to senior officials for routine matters, a practice she deemed remnants of past administrations.

Madi Jobarteh, a human rights activist from the Edward Francis Small Foundation, countered President Barrow’s claims, arguing that the blame lies with poor leadership. “For a President to lament that the civil service is undermining his government is an indication of failed leadership,” Jobarteh asserted. He questioned the systems put in place to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency and challenged the President to provide concrete evidence of civil servants’ alleged sabotage.

Jobarteh also criticized the tendency of senior officials to centralize power, rather than delegating tasks. “What are those ministers and PS’s doing to make sure their ministries and departments are performing efficiently to the satisfaction of citizens so that no one would have to call them?” he asked. He also drew attention to the disparity in treatment between junior civil servants and senior officials, highlighting the former’s hard work amidst poor pay.

The debate has now put the focus on the need for a comprehensive reform of the Gambian public administration, with many calling for greater accountability, efficiency, and a shift towards modern governance practices.