By: Kemo Kanyi
Lawyer Assan Martin, national coordinator for the National Alliance for Change (NAC), in a recent interview with The Voice, accused President Adama Barrow and his administration of selling false hope and dreams to the Gambian people’s adding that the government has failed to achieve any successful reforms in the past eight years in office.
He said Gambians are eager and hungry for change in the coming 2026 elections considering the expensive living conditions and deteriorating and fragile nature of security the country has found itself, and the worrying situation of youth unemployment under President Barrow’s leadership.
“President Barrow’s cabal is into selling false hopes and dreams as elections are looming. Barrow has nothing to offer. Just in a recent interview, he [Barrow] tried to portray himself as a fan of ‘term limits’ as his claim justified. This was laughable. We remind him that he is already about to complete a second term, but he turned around as he speaks in parables and gives us fairy tale promises that he can’t realise is nothing Gambians are willing to endure anymore,” Assan Martin emphasized in an exclusive interview with The Voice.
He added that the rising issues of crimes are leaving Gambians hopeless and are even more frustrated with the level of corruption within the governance structure, stating that it has a massive on the lives of young Gambians as future leaders.
“Moreover, when we saw photos of thousands of Gambian youths scrambling at the office of the labour department for fruit picking jobs in Spain, in which only fifty people were needed for this venture. It saddened some of us. Is this the only project for our youths,” he asked.
He pointed out that the government is not transparent with the conditions of work about the remuneration and the period of employment, asking, “Is this short-term or long-term exploitation of youths?”
Lawyer Assan Martin advised the youth of the country to make inquiries and get more details before signing into such arrangements.
“Well, the stakes are very high to allow President Barrow to continue ruining the lives of Gambians due to his policies. He has shown failed leadership with poor judgment and he is careless about the suffering of the ordinary Gambians, only focusing on his lavish spending and vehicle syndrome policy,” the former magistrate now human rights lawyer pointed out.
He reminded Gambians that The Gambia deserves a better leader with better judgment and character, adding that the country cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past anymore. “We need a progressive country run by ethical and patriotic Gambians to govern in the interest of all.”
