Gambians want the government to focus on bettering the economy, addressing food shortages as well as fixing the country’s ailing healthcare system, a new survey found.

The survey by Afrobarometer showed that the economy, food and healthcare are the main concerns majority of Gambians want the government to address. 

“Public assessments of the government’s economic performance have worsened sharply since 2018, and about one-third of Gambians experienced high levels of lived poverty during the year preceding the survey,” Afrobarometer said.

It added that the proportions of Gambians who report having experienced shortages of medical care and food continue to increase.

“Countering economic and development challenges are goals of the “green recovery focused” national development plan (2023-2027) the government is currently developing, prioritising recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic along with forward-looking climate and environmental policies.

“A national health insurance scheme that is being rolled out will perhaps contribute to addressing inadequate access to health care,” it continued.

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network. 

The Ghana-headquartered organisation conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, the economy, and society in Africa. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba