President Adama Barrow has delivered a stinging rebuke to Brikama Area Council, accusing them of failing to act on Brufut residents’ demand for a new market and alleging that they are more occupied with “quarreling” than delivering for the people.

Speaking to residents in Brufut, Barrow said the market was an issue that should have been addressed by the Area Councils.

“You have asked for a new market which should be done by your Area Councils. But the Area Councils are not doing anything for you, but only quarreling,” he said.

The President then appeared to take the matter out of the councils’ hands, promising that his government would build the market for the community.

“But I will build a new market for you and integrate it for you,” he said.

The unusually blunt criticism puts the performance of local authorities under the spotlight, with Barrow openly questioning their ability to respond to the needs of the communities they are expected to serve.

His intervention also shifts the political pressure from residents’ demand for a market to the question of why the project has not been delivered by the local authorities.

For Brufut residents, the President’s promise represents a direct commitment to address a demand that has remained unresolved.

But his remarks also raise a broader question about local governance: if Area Councils are responsible for responding to community needs, what happens when they fail to deliver?

Barrow’s pledge suggests the central government is prepared to step in where local authorities fall short, turning the proposed Brufut market into a test of both his administration’s delivery and the effectiveness of local government.

By Adama Makasuba