In writing this article, I was in confusion as to which headline to use that will be more appropriate for what I intended to highlight about my impression of The Gambia’s rapid development since my withdrawal from there as Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner.
Author
Several headings therefore were struggling for consideration in my mind; headings such as: The Pearl of Africa, the Jewel of Africa, The Singapore of Africa- this was after I had measured the size in population of this tiny West African State with that of Singapore with a population of about 23,263,209. A country, that is somewhere on the Asian Continent and not easily identified on the map. I therefore decided to settle for the later considering the similarities between this Tiger Economy of Asia and this to-be-Tiger Economy of Africa, The Gambia.
Singapore, if my memories serve me right, grew up to be the fourth largest economy in the world with no resources. The leadership of Lee Kwan Yu was assertive, determined to forge ahead in achieving this feat, and had the collaboration and cooperation of the patriotic citizens of Singapore. There was no hypocrisy. No paying of lip service. The determination was real, it was collective and it was focused!
Gambia is the smallest country on the West Coast of Africa with a population of not more than 2,000,000 (Two Million). I was Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to this country from 1996 and I left there as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps-in 2002.
During that time, The Gambia was a city of potholes due to the ineptitude of the previous government. However, since President Alhaji Yayah A.J.J. Jammeh took over power in a bloodless coup in 1997, it appeared as if he came with all the development ideas that had been deficient in the previous administration. In fact his take over of power, has made some political Scientists and Analysts to re-examine their perceptions about coup d’etats, especially when the leader of such a coup is pragmatic, patriotic and has a penchant for national development that cuts across the broader national spectrum.
Here is a young man, the President of The Gambia, who with his stout ambition has caused pessimists to have a positive look at coups in Africa.
The Gambia unlike Sierra Leone has no natural resources. There are only groundnut (peanuts) farmers, a little bit of marine resources and is heavily dependent on tourism which is sometimes sabotaged if Jammeh does not play the ball according to the whims and caprices of the powers that be.
He was isolated at one time from this only foreign exchange earner by the manipulators of world events, but determined as he is to help his people, that did not make him bulge. As a way of keeping in line with his national development aspirations and with the people haven been galvanized to his vision, he diverted the entire nation’s focus on agriculture instead of tourism.
This proved to be of great importance to the country as a whole. The Gambia grows enough quality rice now that are being sold in most supermarkets. The Gambian women also grow enough vegetables now that are sold in its Hotels. There are boreholes in almost all parts of the country. As for communication, one can communicate to the rest of the world from the remotest village in The Gambia. There are Hospitals and Clinics in every Divisional headquarter in the country that is accessible to all Gambians. There are Schools everywhere with enough teachers to teach Gambian kids. Education which was a privilege and not a right before Jammeh is now a right and a most. The Gambia can now boast of a Medical School and a University. Investors continue to have confidence in the country and they are pouring in, in droves.
All these have occurred within eleven years of rule. Some began in my presence when I was there, but what I saw during this my recent being in that country is very much impressive and surprising.
I was part of the Sierra Leone delegation to the AU Summit in that country from 30th June to the 3rd of July this year. I couldn’t find my way through Banjul city because of the tremendous infrastructural development and private constructions that have sprang up.
As we were driven from the magnificent Yundum Airport through Bijilo to the AU Presidential Complex at Brufut, Gambians in their usual enthusiastic mood decorated the well paved highway route and were dancing and singing through to the AU village, and the prestigious Sheraton Hotel by the Atlantic Ocean where the AU conference itself was held. President Jammeh, by virtue of his rich human relations and the manifest interest in developing his country and people, was able to bring to The Gambia, prominent African and world Leaders such as Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Muammar Gadaffi of Libya, and President Ahmadinnijad of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This shows how enderaing President Jammeh is to his African colleagues.
All these amazed me, though not surprised. This is because; all that was being displayed was typical of their Leader, President Jammeh. Also, the people had seen that he is genuine and has good intentions for the country. It was a way of replication this to President Jammeh. I could not believe when I heard that the entire 52 State-of-the-art houses in the AU village, with all the modern facilities one can think of were constructed by a Gambia Contractor in a period of five months.
One other thing that impressed me so much on hearing was that, before the visit of the African Heads of State and Governments, Gambians from all works of life had taken upon themselves to clean the entire streets, the gutters, brushed the bushes, cleared the dustbins in all parts of Banjul, the Kombo Saint Mary’s Division including Brikama, Bijilo, Brufut, Serekunda, Bakau etc. They were demonstrating to their Leader and indeed other parts of Africa that they were patriotic and were concerned with what ever was it that relates to the promotion of their country’s image, which had nothing to do with high-profiling President Jammeh alone, or high-profiling any political party. What they wanted was a collective accolade from the African Leaders, which when heaped on their President, will shower down to them all.
My overall impression about the whole AU Summit and what I saw the Gambians manifest was that they were merely giving courage and confidence to their leaders to push on for national development and that they will for ever be maintain and consolidate those developments. I also had the impression of the Gambians sense of ownership over State properties. They are aware that President Jammeh will never take any of these development initiatives to any other place on earth and therefore would have to protect them. Indeed, that was what my Dear Gambian brothers and sisters manifested during this AU Summit.
When I reflected on these, I was wondered whether My Sierra Leonean compatriots will emulate such show of patriotism to inculcate this sense of ownership and responsibility for the State of Sierra Leone.
As a friend, President Jammeh reiterated to me in private what he has always said publicly, and that is, that he will make The Gambia the Singapore of Africa. And I said to him, "Your Excellency, I have already seen Singapore in the Gambia," and like his compatriots will him, I said to Him, "Your Excellency, ‘Jerreh-jeff’, ‘eenin-barrah’ ‘jarammah’"-all meaning Thank You. I also told him in Krio, "eh-kushe"and ended up with "Thank you very much Sir, and may Allah bless and guide you to continue with your good works."
© Copyright by Awareness Times
Newspaper in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
