Ebrima Tabora Manneh Enters Presidential Race, Says Barrow’s Government Is Taking Gambia Nowhere

People’s Alliance Party leader Ebrima Tabora Manneh has submitted his nomination papers for The Gambia’s December 5 presidential election, using the occasion to sharply criticize President Adama Barrow’s administration. Speaking to journalists after filing his documents with the Independent Electoral Commission, Manneh said his party was running because he believes the country is not moving forward. Manneh argued that The Gambia has fallen behind other African countries in development despite its small population and economic potential. With fewer than three million people, he said, the country should be easier to develop if leaders adopt effective economic policies and make job creation a priority. To underline his point, the PAP leader compared The Gambia’s progress with Singapore’s. Both countries became independent from Britain in the same year, he noted, yet their paths have diverged dramatically. Manneh said people from Britain now go to Singapore for employment, while young Gambians continue to leave through irregular migration routes. He described the journeys undertaken by Gambian youths as evidence of limited opportunities at home and a failure to create enough jobs. Manneh also criticized the government’s record across several sectors, arguing that it has not delivered meaningful progress. According to Manneh, economic growth and productive employment—particularly for young people—are essential to sustainable national development. He said the PAP’s participation in the election is intended to change the country’s economic direction and pursue policies that improve living standards and expand opportunities for Gambians. The nomination marks Manneh’s formal entry into the presidential contest. His remarks set out the case he intends to make to voters: that The Gambia’s development record should be judged against its potential, and that the government needs a different approach to create jobs and improve prospects for young people.