President Adama Barrow’s decision to host a celebration for supporters of Arsenal Football Club at State House in Banjul raises an important question that goes beyond football: What is the proper purpose of State House? Reports and images circulating publicly show the President hosting a celebratory event following Arsenal’s Premier League triumph, a club he is well known to support.
Clearly, there is nothing wrong with President Barrow being an Arsenal fan. He is entitled to his personal interests, passions, and loyalties just like every other citizen. The issue is not Arsenal. The issue is State House.
The seat of power, whether called State House, Presidential Palace, Presidential Office, Government House, or Executive Mansion, is not merely a building. It is a constitutional symbol of the state, national sovereignty, and executive authority. For that reason, there are internationally recognized protocol standards governing its use.
While specific rules vary by country, several universal principles apply which provide that the State House remains politically neutral in its official functions and used in a manner that preserves the dignity and prestige of the state. State House is not the personal property of the President. It is not a political party office, a private residence, a commercial venue, or a social club.
State House is the seat of executive authority and one of the highest symbols of national sovereignty. It is funded by taxpayers and maintained to facilitate the discharge of constitutional responsibilities. Its purpose is to host state functions, diplomatic engagements, meetings with constitutional bodies, national ceremonies, and other activities directly connected to governance and public interest.
Across democratic societies, a clear distinction is maintained between the office and the officeholder. The president is temporary while the institution is permanent. The president may support a football club, belong to a religious community, attend family events, or engage in social activities. But the institutions of state must remain above personal preferences and private interests. This distinction is essential for preserving the neutrality, dignity, and integrity of public institutions.
The question therefore is simple: what public purpose was served by transforming State House into a venue for celebrating the victory of a foreign football club?
Would supporters of Manchester United, Barcelona, Zamalek, Enugu Rangers, Orlando Pirates or Wallidan among others be accorded similar access to State House? If not, then the event immediately raises concerns about the appropriate use of a national institution. Public institutions must not appear to favour one group, one interest, or one preference over others.
The concern becomes even more significant when viewed against the current national context. The country is grappling with severe electricity shortages, rising living costs, unemployment, governance concerns, and growing public dissatisfaction with service delivery. Citizens expect the highest office in the land to project seriousness, focus and commitment to addressing national challenges. At such a moment, hosting celebrations for a football club sends a troubling message about priorities.
The Gambia has spent decades struggling against the personalization of public institutions. One of the central promises of the transitional justice program and its ‘Never Again’ mantra is that state institutions belong to citizens, not to leaders. That principle must be protected not only from corruption and abuse, but also from seemingly harmless practices that gradually normalize the use of national institutions for personal interests.
Pres. Barrow has every right to celebrate Arsenal’s success. He can attend fan gatherings, host celebrations at private venues, or join supporters anywhere in the country. But State House should remain what it was intended to be: the seat of government, not the headquarters of a supporters’ club or the venue for celebrating a foreign football team.
A democracy is strengthened when institutions are respected, protected and used strictly for the public good. That is why State House must remain a house of state, not a house of personal interests.
For The Gambia, Our Homeland
