Central Bank governor, Buah Saidy has said the Gambian economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite growing global economic uncertainty and rising inflationary pressures.

Addressing journalists after the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Banjul, Governor Saidy highlighted tourism, construction, trade and digital financial services as major sectors sustaining economic growth in the country.

“The Gambian economy continues to demonstrate strong resilience despite increasing global uncertainties and adverse geopolitical developments,” he stated.

The Central Bank projected real GDP growth at 5.7 percent in 2026, although slightly lower than earlier forecasts due to the impact of international conflicts and rising fuel prices.

Governor Saidy also pointed to strong performance in the banking sector, with customer deposits increasing to D84.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026.

Mobile money and fintech services also recorded significant growth, with transaction volumes rising sharply between December 2025 and March 2026.

The Bank further noted that remittance inflows and tourism earnings continue to support foreign exchange inflows and economic activity across the country.

Despite maintaining optimism about the economy, the MPC decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 14 percent to contain inflationary pressures and maintain stability in the financial sector.

By Adama Makasuba