Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – In his New Year’s address to the nation, President Adama Barrow highlighted both the challenges and opportunities facing The Gambia as the country moves into 2025. Emphasizing unity, resilience, and national development, President Barrow called for collective effort to overcome setbacks such as crop failures in some regions and to ensure the continued progress of the country.

Addressing the impact of last summer’s crop failure, the President acknowledged the challenges faced by farming communities, urging Gambians to support those affected. “While my government is providing support for the victims, I ask for everyone’s assistance where feasible,” Barrow said, noting that the production of sorghum and rice had not been severely affected, and that there are hopes of achieving self-sufficiency in rice production soon.

The President stressed the importance of diversifying agricultural methods to improve the sector’s resilience. “Our farmers must diversify their farming approaches, schedules, and produce if we are to attain our agricultural production targets,” he urged, adding that despite the global economic crisis, his government had successfully maintained the tariff for groundnuts to protect farmers’ purchasing power.

Calling for Political Restrain

Looking ahead to 2025, which will be a year leading up to the 2026 presidential election, President Barrow called for restraint in political discourse, emphasizing the importance of unity. “The only threat to our unity, development, and progress is politics. It must not divide us,” he warned. He called for Gambians to embrace their shared identity and cultural heritage, avoiding divisive politics that could harm national cohesion.

President Barrow also focused on youth empowerment, stressing that the future of The Gambia depends on the young generation. “The continuity of our advancement individually, as well as our national progress, security, peace, and development rests on the youth,” he said. He encouraged young people to focus on education, innovation, and productivity, warning against being used as instruments of violence or political instability.

The President also reaffirmed his commitment to improving critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and energy, acknowledging the urgent need to address these areas to ensure sustainable development. “The challenges before us are numerous,” he said, urging citizens to unite in the face of these obstacles.

About Ongoing Reforms

In terms of governance, Barrow touched on the progress made in constitutional reform, announcing that the revised draft constitution had been submitted to the National Assembly and would soon be presented to the people for a referendum. He emphasized that his government would comply with constitutional procedures and uphold the rule of law, stating, “Neither the government nor any sect of the Gambian community can impose their will on the nation.”

In his closing remarks, the President appealed for greater solidarity, urging Gambians to set aside political differences and work together for the nation’s betterment. “Let us solidify the partnership and support each other for the betterment of every citizen,” he said, acknowledging the critical role played by women, the private sector, and civil society in the country’s development.

He also highlighted new government initiatives, including pay increases for civil servants and pensioners, aimed at improving living standards and motivating public servants to work more efficiently. “Through such incentives, we expect our public servants to be amply motivated to work efficiently and increase their productivity levels,” Barrow noted.

As The Gambia enters 2024, the President’s message reflected both optimism and determination to overcome the nation’s challenges and continue building a prosperous future for all its citizens.