2024 was a disastrous year for Gambians who went abroad in search of greener pastures. It is reported that 1557 Gambians died at sea in 2024 and 880 are still missing at sea and 374 on land.
This tragedy requires a national conversation on the plight of young people in the country. The high unemployment rate and low earnings do not make the country attractive in retaining our youths. It is not enough to use security measures to deter young people from leaving the country.
Remittances amounting to 52 billion dalasi in 2023 and 55 billion dalasi in 2024 confirms that the country is making huge benefits from remittances.
In the same vein, government should keep records of how much wealth is repatriated from The Gambia on annual basis, and which countries are the greatest beneficiaries. Such countries should be encouraged to pursue a balanced trade and employment exchange programme to promote legal migration for mutual benefit. Government should avoid, at all cost, for Gambians to be tranformed into indentured servants rather professional skilled workers.
