From Banjul to Brussels: EBID President Hails Gambia’s Transformation as Barrow Urges Private Sector Boost

The Board of Directors of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) paid a courtesy visit to His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Monday afternoon at the State House in Banjul, underscoring The Gambia’s growing stature within the West African economic community.

The high-level delegation was led by the President of the Bank, Dr. George Donkor, and accompanied by the outgoing Chairman of the Board, Honourable Seedy Keita, who also serves as The Gambia’s Minister of Finance.

President Barrow warmly welcomed the team and lauded the Bank’s decision to hold its 23rd Board meeting in The Gambia, describing it as a strong show of confidence in the country’s economic trajectory.

He used the opportunity to advocate for increased EBID support to the private sector, stressing that its efficiency in implementation often outpaces government procedures.

“The private sector drives economic development,” President Barrow said, adding that “government procedures and processes delay implementation time.”

The Gambian leader further expressed gratitude to EBID for its continuous support to member countries, while encouraging the Bank to explore internal revenue alternatives to sustain development efforts across the region. He highlighted The Gambia’s own strides in revenue generation, noting a remarkable 163% increase in domestic revenue collection from 2017 to 2024.

“This growth has enabled our government to construct roads and deliver essential social amenities,” he said, emphasizing the importance of financial autonomy in driving national progress.

In response, EBID President George Donkor commended the Barrow administration for the visible developments across the country. Visibly impressed by the nation’s transformation, Donkor remarked, “I thought I was in Europe, from the airport, the roads, and the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre.”

Reflecting on previous visits, he acknowledged the significant progress made in The Gambia, describing the improvements as a testament to strong leadership and effective investment.

The meeting comes as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen regional cooperation and economic growth through targeted development financing by EBID, with The Gambia playing an increasingly pivotal role.