The President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, addressed a cabinet retreat held at the State House from February 5th to 6th, 2025. During his speech, he emphasized the importance of collective action and effective decision-making in delivering tangible improvements for the Gambian people.
President Barrow highlighted the theme of the retreat, "Delivering for Results," as an opportunity to explore ways to harness shared commitments for national progress. He referenced the recent 2024 Meet the People Tour, noting increased public expectations for infrastructure and improved livelihoods due to previous administration successes.
Barrow urged cabinet members to surpass public expectations by driving ambitious targets and improving citizens' lives. He underscored the critical role of a well-functioning cabinet in governance and noted that government performance is heavily reliant on its composition and quality.
He acknowledged past challenges during years of dictatorship when cabinet roles were eroded but noted significant improvements since his administration took office. These include more frequent meetings, better tracking of decisions, and improved policy outcomes.
President Barrow expressed expectations for increased efficiency and higher performance levels from the cabinet in policy delivery. He emphasized innovative initiatives as crucial for achieving governmental goals underlined by declaring 2025 as the "Year of Results."
He also called attention to enhancing Cabinet processes through adherence to standards outlined in guiding documents like the Revised Cabinet Manual. Improved planning would aid in delivering national projects such as road construction, universal energy access by 2025, and developing port infrastructure.
In closing, Barrow encouraged open dialogue and collaboration during the retreat to foster effective governance aligned with public aspirations. He stressed accountability in delivering progress expected by citizens while maintaining transparency within institutions.
Barrow concluded by thanking attendees for their efforts so far and expressed anticipation for resolutions from this retreat that contribute positively to The Gambia's future.
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