According to a nationwide study conducted by Gambia Participates, the majority of Gambians believe that corruption is a serious and growing problem.
According to the survey, which polled 1,556 people nationwide, 67% of respondents think corruption in The Gambia is “very high,” and 23% think it is “high.” When combined, this indicates that 90% of Gambians believe corruption is a widespread issue.
By comparison, only 6% of respondents characterized the level of corruption as moderate, 2% as little, and 2% as nonexistent.
According to the research, these findings “underline the deeply ingrained public concern about corruption, suggesting that it is perceived as a systemic issue.” It further underlined that the near-unanimous perception indicates to the urgent need for governance changes, better accountability systems, and visible anti-corruption actions to rebuild trust in public institutions.
The results also imply that Gambians think the issue is becoming worse. Just 5% of respondents believed corruption had decreased in the past year, compared to a startling 81% who said it had worsened.
There were also noticeable regional differences. Public dissatisfaction was greatest in the capital, Banjul, where 94% of respondents said corruption was “very high.” In Brikama and Kanifing, the tendency was similarly significant, with 72 % and 68 %, respectively, agreeing.
In addition to highlighting the urgent need for measures to combat corruption at all levels of administration in The Gambia, the study presents a gloomy picture of popular mood.
