By Binta Jaiteh
Human rights activist, Madi Jobarteh has strongly criticized Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, for comparing the handling of migration-related deaths under former President Yahya Jammeh and the current Barrow administration, urging him to stop misleading the public.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Jobarteh said such comparisons were inappropriate without evidence. He cited the current government’s circular migration agreement with Spain, noting that out of the 10,000 applicants only 39 were selected, while 33 absconded. “That alone shows that something is fundamentally wrong in this country,” Madi remarked.
Jobarteh emphasized that media reports of boat accidents that have happened since 2017 indicate an unprecedented rise in migration-related deaths. “The minister should stop misleading the public. The evidence shows that backway migration is increasing under the Barrow government,” he argued.
Describing the backway as “unsafe, dangerous, and unacceptable,” Jobarteh says migration is a human right, but when it is driven by desperation, it highlights serious socioeconomic and governance issues. He noted that both underprivileged and educated Gambians seek to migrate, albeit through different routes, driven by limited opportunities and persistent hardship.
The activist pointed out that remittances from migrants’ support households fund education and healthcare, and sustain small businesses, yet the state has failed to create domestic opportunities that allow citizens to live with dignity. “Sixty years after independence, national development remains largely ad hoc and poorly implemented. Public institutions underperform and deliver low-quality services,” he said.
Jobarteh called for a coordinated government intervention linking education and skills training to the real economy. He urged young people to refrain from taking the dangerous backway journey.
