By Kemo Kanyi
Amadou Jaiteh, leader of the PROGRESS political movement, has criticised the newly launched manifesto of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), describing it as an admission of failure by President Adama Barrow’s administration.
Speaking in an interview with The Voice newspaper on Tuesday, Jaiteh argued that the nine-point manifesto unveiled by President Barrow presents policy objectives that should have already been achieved after nearly a decade in office.
He said Gambians should question why an incumbent president is still promising improvements in governance, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, energy, youth empowerment, digital transformation and environmental protection.
“A manifesto is normally a contract between a candidate and the people. But when an incumbent who has already controlled the state for almost a decade releases a manifesto full of promises to fix the same problems he inherited, managed and failed to solve, that manifesto becomes something else. It becomes an admission of failure,” Jaiteh said.
According to the PROGRESS leader, the issues highlighted in the manifesto are not new policy priorities but unfinished commitments of the current administration.
Commenting on the manifesto’s focus on good governance and public service delivery, Jaiteh questioned why governance reforms remain campaign promises after years in government.
He argued that Gambians voted for political change in 2016 with expectations of accountable leadership, constitutional reform, stronger institutions and improved public sector governance.
Jaiteh maintained that the country continues to face challenges related to accountability, public sector efficiency and governance.
He further contended that several key policy areas highlighted in the manifesto, including national security, justice and the rule of law, constitutional reform, education, healthcare, social protection, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, youth and women’s empowerment, and environmental protection, remain works in progress despite previous commitments by the government.
The NPP recently launched its manifesto outlining priorities for governance, economic development and social transformation ahead of future electoral contests.
The government has repeatedly defended its record, citing investments in infrastructure, energy, education, healthcare and economic development as evidence of progress achieved since President Barrow assumed office in 2017.