Development economist turned politician Dr. Ousman Gagigo has characterized The Gambia’s ongoing underdevelopment as a “fundamental failure of leadership.”
Dr. Gagigo stated on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez on Monday that he decided to enter politics because he believes the nation suffers from incompetent, dishonest, and unethical leadership.
“Leadership is The Gambia’s fundamental problem,” he stated. “We lack leadership that is competent and has integrity. These are things that are really lacking, and I believe that is something I can bring to the table.”
Leading the Patriotic Progressive Party (PPP), which has not yet registered, Dr. Gagigo emphasized that his decision to enter politics was not motivated by a lack of options or a desire for fortune. He claimed to have had the chance to accumulate financial wealth but decided against it.
He said that he recently turned down a D30 million government contract offer that lacked a clear area of work.
“Imagine if I had taken a contract to do a consultancy without a clear description of what the work is,” he said. “Could I then be criticizing the government on corruption?”
Dr. Gagigo contended that senior officials should not be permitted to directly pledge contracts to individuals under a government that is truly devoted to combating corruption, characterizing such actions as attempts to appease or suppress opponents.
Regarding the state of the economy, he pointed out that issues affect important areas like energy, transportation, agriculture, education, and health. He did, however, stress that rigorous sector prioritization and a thorough grasp of the economy’s primary forces and pillars are necessary for efficient economic planning.
He reaffirmed, “Knowing what drives your economy and choosing which sectors to prioritize when planning are more important.”
