President Adama Barrow begins his 19-day Meet the People Tour today, taking his government’s development agenda directly to communities across The Gambia.

The nationwide tour will feature 21 public meetings, 24 project-site visits and seven inauguration and handing-over ceremonies covering key areas including roads, electricity, health and agriculture.

The annual Meet the People Tour is required under Section 222(15) of The Gambia’s Constitution and provides an opportunity for the President and his government to engage communities across the country.

Energy is expected to feature prominently during the tour, with the government having recently signed projects aimed at expanding and strengthening electricity access.

The planned interventions include electricity connections for 241 communities in the Central River and Upper River regions, as well as more than 40 communities in the Greater Banjul Area.

The tour comes just weeks before the December 5 presidential election, putting the government’s development projects and record directly before communities as political activity intensifies.

President Barrow is expected to use the 19-day engagement to meet citizens, inspect development projects and participate in the inauguration and handing over of completed projects across the country.

The tour will take the President and his delegation through different regions, providing communities with an opportunity to raise concerns and discuss local development priorities with the government.

By Adama Makasuba