By: Fatou Krubally
Independent National Assembly of Foni Bintang,Member Bakary Badjie has criticized President Adama Barrow’s Thursday June 19,2025 State of the Nation Address, saying it lacked concrete details on key national issues such as youth employment, inflation, and accountability.
In an interview with The Voice, Badjie expressed disappointment over what he described as a vague and incomplete account of the government’s performance. “The President told us about creating 150,000 jobs for the youth, but he failed to mention how far he has gone with that promise. Was it 5%, 10%, or even 80% completed? He didn’t say,” Badjie remarked.
He further challenged Barrow’s claim that inflation is dropping, pointing out that the reality on the ground tells a different story. “Yes, salaries may have increased by 30%, but the cost of living continues to rise. Food and basic commodities are getting more expensive every day,” he said.
Badjie also criticized the government’s handling of overseas youth programs, including the controversial labour migration arrangements with countries like Saudi Arabia and China. “Why are our youths being sent abroad for $200 jobs? Why can’t we create opportunities for them here at home?” he questioned.
The Serrekunda-based lawmaker raised concerns about public sector salaries, particularly for healthcare workers. “Some nurses receive their pay late, and allowances are missing. These are issues the President should be addressing directly,” he noted.
Badjie also noted that the government’s oil exploration efforts questioning the rationale behind spending $100 million without prior clarity on prospects. “That’s public money. The President only addressed it after public outcry, transparency, and accountability should not come after the fact,” he said.
As an aspiring presidential candidate, Badjie said he would have approached the address differently. “I would have laid out how we can achieve food self-sufficiency, fight inflation, and tackle insecurity. We must be honest with the people about the challenges we face.”
