By Bubacarr Komma January 10, 2022
President Adama Barrow’s few months ago attempted to diminish the pivotal role Gambians in the diaspora play in the nation’s economy. However, in a twist of fate, the deputy Central Bank governor, Dr. Saikou Jabbi hailed Gambians in the diaspora for their 62.9% contribution to GDP.
Dr. Saikou Jabbi hailed Gambians in diaspora for their massive contribution of 62.9% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the Migration and Sustainable Development in The Gambia (MSDG) Fifth Stake of the Nation Forum which took place on Saturday at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre.
“To give a catalogue of remittance over the years, in 2018 the total remittance reached 277 billion, that is 80% growth in year 2019. And in year 2019 it reached 328 million US Dollars this is 31% of our GDP. In year 2020 despite the COVID 19, it reached 589 million US Dollars forming 47% of our GDP and in year 2021, 774.6 million US Dollars”. He was cheered by the audience after saying this figure.
“Maybe I have to repeat this again, in the year 2021 that is from January to December 2021, 774.6 million US Dollars this is 62.9% of our GDP”. Dr. Jabbi told the delegates. He added: “Despite the challenges of coronavirus, Diaspora Gambian have not relent in supporting their families and enhancing the development aspirations of the motherland. During the year 2021 as I said the volume has increased unprecedentedly to the level of 774.6 million US Dollars from 589 million US Dollars in 2020 recording an increase of 31.3%. in 2021 this figure of 774.6 million US Dollars ids equivalent to 40.65 billion Dalasis”.
Despite all these contributions by Gambian in diaspora, President Adama Barrow is least impressed with them. In November 2021 during the president campaign in Brikama he blasted his diaspora critics as poor, jobless and hypocrites. “Ignore them, these people in the diaspora who are talking. They don’t even have what to eat. They don’t even have a chicken cage in The Gambia here”.
This comment does not go down well with many people in diaspora. Some went to social media to express their dismay citing the economic contributions and the political struggle to end his predecessor Jammeh ́s 22 years of dictatorship by financially supporting the campaign and exposing the brutal dictatorship, the country was living in.
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