In this reflection, Gambiana senior reporter Adama Makasuba shares his impressions from a recent trip to China and contrasts the country’s rapid progress with The Gambia’s persistent underdevelopment.

He argues that while China builds through discipline and innovation, Gambian leaders remain trapped in political distractions and social media noise.

I’ve learned a lot from my recent trip to the People’s Republic of China, a country that has developed enormously.

But I was saddened and disappointed by our Gambian governments from independence to the present, and I keep asking myself: are our authorities not noticing the development taking place in other countries they keep visiting?

China’s rapid growth in both infrastructure and technological innovation offers a valuable lesson for every serious and ambitious government.

China is a country that has endured immense pain and tribulations at the hands of oppressors. Yet, their leaders stood firm against these challenges and ensured change in every sector—a luxury their country enjoys today.

There is no doubt that China is the world’s number one in terms of development in infrastructure and technology. Yet, it is a country not obsessed with being number one.

So, if China can achieve this, why can’t we? The brains they have are the same as the brains we have.

The most frustrating part about our Gambia is that, despite our continued struggle with abject poverty, those we put in office to bring about change keep playing political games with a disintegrated opposition, which should have used the opportunity created by our government’s weaknesses to gain power.

Our social media is among the most backward platforms today. People spend 24 hours a day attacking one another foolishly, while serious nations and their citizens innovate and create solutions for their countries.

Everything in this country seems dysfunctional. Social media has become a platform for hate and conflict. We are abusing this tool while others are using it to build progress.

We have nothing to brag about. Even the peace we used to take pride in is fading. We are more polarized than ever, all in the name of politics.

We need to shift our focus to constructive efforts. Our government officials must get to work and stop wasting time on social media.

By Adama Makasuba.