Sulayman Waan, leader of the Change Front Political Movement, has criticised what he describes as excessive government spending on vehicles for the presidency and cabinet ministers, arguing that the policy is “not in line with the country’s economic reality”.

Mr Waan said it is an “open secret” that millions of dalasis are spent on cars for top officials while many public institutions struggle with limited or inadequate transport.

Under current arrangements, each minister is allocated two vehicles, an official car and a utility car for family use , while permanent secretaries and directors receive only one.

Mr Waan said ministers are driving vehicles costing between D8 million and D10 million, which he argues is unjustifiable for a low-income country like The Gambia.

“The Gambia is a poor country, and therefore there is no justification for spending several millions on vehicles for top government officials,” he said.

“We should cut our cloth according to our size.”

He added that even administrations in wealthier nations do not purchase such expensive vehicles for their presidents or prime ministers.

Mr Waan said that if elected, a Change Front government would introduce “radical measures” to reduce spending at the presidency and across the executive.

Under his proposed reforms, ministers would be entitled to only one official vehicle, and no government official, including the president, would receive a car worth more than D2 million.

He also pledged to abolish the utility car policy that provides ministers’ families with vehicles.

“All such cars, he said, would be withdrawn and reallocated to public institutions that lack adequate transport.

“A Change Front administration would further auction off expensive vehicles currently used by senior officials and replace them with cheaper models,” he said.

According to Mr Waan, the savings would be redirected to development projects aimed at improving social and economic conditions.

By Adama Makasuba