By Kemo Kanyi
Amadou Jaiteh, leader of the People’s Reformist Organization for Growth, Renewal, Equity, Security and Social Justice (PROGRESS), has criticised what he described as the prevailing style of politics in The Gambia, accusing politicians of placing personal interests above the national interest.
In an article shared with The Voice, Jaiteh, a former Gambian diplomat, questioned whether the recent changes in political alliances represented a genuine transformation of the country’s political system.
He said recent political developments had seen the formation of new alliances, with former rivals becoming partners as politicians moved from one political camp to another.
While acknowledging that politicians had the right to make such political choices, Jaiteh said the developments raised questions about whether national interests were being prioritised.
“But while all of this is happening, I want us to ask a more important question. Was The Gambia on the agenda, or was it more about personal gain?” he asked.
Jaiteh said recent political negotiations had focused heavily on political positions and benefits rather than issues affecting ordinary Gambians.
He cited the high cost of living, education, employment and the state of the country’s health facilities as issues that should receive greater attention.
According to Jaiteh, the political negotiations risk creating the impression that The Gambia is being treated as “a pie to be shared among politicians, with each of them negotiating for their portion of the pie.”
The PROGRESS leader argued that if political negotiations remained focused on what individual politicians could gain, changing political figures would not necessarily result in meaningful political reform.
“The names may be changing, but the system remains the same,” he said.
Jaiteh said the December 2026 presidential election should therefore be viewed as an opportunity for Gambians to seek broader changes in the way the country is governed.
He called for a system in which public institutions serve citizens rather than political parties, appointments are based on competence rather than political loyalty, and corruption carries consequences.
He also advocated for a government that spends less on itself and allocates more resources to improving the welfare of citizens.
Jaiteh recalled that Gambians changed the country’s president in 2016, arguing that the Dec. 5, 2026 presidential election presents an opportunity to pursue deeper institutional and governance reforms.
He urged citizens to focus not only on changing political leaders but also on changing the system of governance.