Gambiaj.com – (Gambiaj.com) – Essa Faal, the APP-SOBEYA party leader has condemned government spending priorities, while the Information minister, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay dismisses opposition critiques as “petty politics.” The stage is set for a fierce battle leading to the 2026 presidential elections.

It all began when, at his party’s convention held in Farafenni over the weekend, the former lead prosecutor of The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) criticized the current administration’s financial priorities. Faal expressed frustration with what he described as the government’s misplaced priorities that exacerbate poverty and hinder national development.

Faal pointed to the high costs associated with President Adama Barrow’s “Meet the People” tour and the purchase of expensive vehicles for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit as examples of wasteful spending. He also highlighted the country’s reliance on food imports, despite its potential for agricultural self-sufficiency. Promising to address these issues by 2026, Faal urged Gambians to rally behind APP-SOBEYA for transformative leadership.

However, the Minister of Information and Citizen’s Alliance leader, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, dismissed Faal’s criticisms during an appearance on QTV on Monday.

“Well, I am not surprised. One thing certain in Gambian politics is that the so-called opposition does not have an alternative to what exists now,” Dr. Ceesay said. He described the government’s current policies as delivering development across all sectors and accused the opposition of lacking substantive policy ideas.

“When the opposition has nothing to come after the government policy-wise, all they do is engage in politics, saying things that don’t make sense. Gambians are aware; Gambians are not sleeping,” Dr. Ceesay added, asserting that Faal’s comments reflected “petty politics” rather than constructive critique.

The contrasting views underscore the growing divide between the government and opposition parties in The Gambia, as the country navigates critical economic and developmental challenges.