In a bid to curtail public spending, Gambian President Adama Barrow has taken the step of suspending all foreign travel for government officials, including himself, as announced by a government spokesperson on Saturday.
President Barrow has signed an executive order that effectively puts a halt to overseas travel for the remainder of the fiscal year.
This suspension encompasses the president, vice-president, cabinet ministers, senior government officials, civil servants, and employees within all government entities and agencies.
However, it’s important to note that meetings requiring Gambian participation and foreign trips that are fully funded by external sources will be exceptions to this rule.
Gambia, which holds the distinction of being the smallest country in continental Africa with a population of just over two million, faces challenges in its development.
On the UN’s Human Development Index, a metric combining health, education, and standard of living indicators, the country ranks 174th out of 191 nations.
A significant portion of the population, more than one-fifth, lives on an income of less than two dollars per day, as reported by the World Bank. Moreover, the nation experienced an annual inflation rate of 11.6 percent in the previous year.
The country’s finances have been strained due to a combination of factors, including falling tax revenues and substantial state subsidies on fuel, fertilizer, and grain, prompted by the impacts of the conflict in Ukraine. This has led to a widening budget deficit and an increase in both the budget deficit and debt levels.
