By Kebba AF Touray
The debt to be repaid by The Gambia in the year 2025 is 11 billion dalasi. This is indicated in the Estimates for Revenue and Expenditure of The Gambia Government for the year 2025, which was laid before the National Assembly on Friday for consideration and approval by its members.
Seedy Keita, Gambia’s Finance Minister on Friday, 15 November 2024, tabled the 2025 draft estimates and expenditure totaling 53 billion dalasi for legislative scrutiny, consideration, and approval. Of the said total estimates, tax revenue is projected to reach 29 billion, representing 14.52 percent of the GDP; the consolidated revenue fund (CRF), 32 billion Dalasi, representing 16.02 percent of the GDP.
Expenditure and net lending are projected to be thirty-two billion dalasi or 16.12 percent of the GDP for the 2025 fiscal year.
The approved budget in 2023 was 21 billion dalasi. This rose to D42 in 2024 and in 2025, it has risen by 11 billion dalasi to reach D53 billion dalasi.
As indicated in the estimates, loans are projected to reach D2,5 billion dalasi, grants are projected to be D12.6 billion dalasi and GLF is projected to be D37 billion dalasi.
Hon. Alhagie S Darboe, the Minority Leader, Moved a Motion to Block Tabling of 2025 Draft Budget, questioning the Finance Minister’s failure to submit the 2025 Draft Budget in accordance with the 1997 Constitution.
Hon Darboe’s motion was met with a counter motion by the Deputy Speaker Hon Seedy SK Njie, and set to be decided by the ruling of the Speaker on the matter.
As per the 1997 Constitution of The Gambia and the Public Finance Act of The Gambia, as amended, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs must lay the budget estimates for the upcoming fiscal year at least 60 days before the end of the fiscal year.
The National Assembly must then consider and approve the estimates within 30 days of them being laid before it.
This automatically connotes that the laying of 2025 on the 15th of November 2024, fell short of the said amended version of the Constitution, as from 15th November to 31st December 2024 is less than 60 days.
15th November to 31st December totals a period of 46 days, as opposed to the 60 days constitutional requirement.
The Finance Minister, in his explanation, said that they were working on the salary increment and discussing with donors, to be able to incorporate them in the draft budget for 2025.
After hours of intensive internal discussions of the Assembly within closed doors, the Speaker ruled for the Minister to apologise for the delay in laying the draft budget.
The Finance Minister complied and apologised, after which the sitting proceeded for the Minister to lay the estimates of revenue and expenditure for the 2025 fiscal year for the Republic of the Gambia.
