By Fatou Krubally
United Democratic Party (UDP) leader, Ousainou Darboe has pledged to serve a single five-year term as president if elected, promising to tackle corruption, reform the civil service, and revive the economy.
Speaking on “Africa Thinks” with Peter Cottey on Friday, Darboe says his bid is motivated by public service rather than personal gain.
“I am asking for just one term, five years, to deliver real change,” he said. “The Gambian people have reposed their hope in me before, and I will not disappoint them now.”
Darboe identified urgent national challenges, including widening inequality, stagnating wages for public servants, neglected farmers, and government spending heavily on officials while ordinary citizens struggle. He criticized the current administration’s focus on infrastructure projects, arguing that these cannot replace proper healthcare, fair wages, or security.
His roadmap for reform focuses on four pillars: drafting a new constitution, reforming the civil service, overhauling the security sector, and jumpstarting economic growth. He noted that all except economic reform, which requires sustained effort, could be achieved within five years.
Darboe also highlighted disparities in public sector salaries, saying that while top officials enjoy significant earnings, essential workers such as teachers, nurses, and security personnel face hardships.
On tackling corruption, he pledged transparency and accountability, including public asset declarations and the creation of independent anti-corruption institutions. He promised to streamline government budgets and eliminate wasteful expenditure, setting an example from the presidency down.
Responding to critics who question his shift from serving in President Adama Barrow’s government to challenging him, Darboe said: “I could have stayed in office for personal gain, but I chose to serve the Gambian people instead. My record shows that.”
He also expressed willingness to form coalitions with other opposition parties, emphasizing that unity strengthens the prospects for meaningful change.
“Give me your trust for just five years,” Darboe concluded. “Together, we can put Gambia back on the path of fairness, opportunity, and progress.”