Neneh Chey Yassin Secka, a Gambian businesswoman with ambitions of becoming the country’s vice president, has come under heavy criticism online after publicly revealing how much she spent attending high-profile entertainment events.

In a TikTok video that quickly went viral, Ms Secka broke down the cost of her appearance at the Youssou N’Dour gala held at the Coco Ocean Resort, saying she wanted to show the “time, energy and money” that go into her public appearances.

Detailing her expenses, she said her custom-made dress cost D110,000, while her Italian designer shoes were worth about D72,000.

She added that her Jimmy Choo clutch, makeup, photographer and platinum table at the event pushed the bill even higher, with the table alone costing D150,000. She also disclosed that she carried D25,000 to give out to others at the event.

“I chose this life and I love every bit of it,” she told her followers, insisting she had no regrets about the spending.

However, the video triggered a wave of angry reactions from some Gambians, who accused her of being insensitive in a country struggling with economic hardship.

“Spend your money any way you want, but don’t bring it to our attention,” one commenter wrote.

Another added: “People show wealth here by helping others. You spent all that money and still don’t look good.”

Others questioned her political ambitions, arguing that such displays could damage her credibility. “You want people to take you and your party seriously? Gambians will decide,” one critic said.

Unfazed by the backlash, Ms Secka doubled down by releasing another video, this time detailing her expenses at Jaliba Kuyateh’s album launch, where she was named Queen of the Night.

She listed the cost of her fabric, jewellery, designer sandals, media coverage and cash gifts, revealing she handed out large sums to the artist, griots and members of her entourage.

She ended both videos with the same challenge to viewers: asking them to guess how much she spent in total, a move that has continued to divide opinion across social media.

By Adama Makasuba