The World Bank’s Vice President for Africa, Makhtar Diop, is reported to have announced that The Gambia will be given $60 million in budgetary support.
Reuters reported that this support is coming at a time that some officials of the new government are alleging that the former ruler Yahya Jammeh stole millions of dollars in public money rendering the country’s coffers empty.
Officials of the World Bank held a meeting with the new government with the promise of supporting the budget with $40 million before June and $20 million later.
Gambia’s finance minister Amadou Sanneh is quoted by Reuters to have said that “All parastatals, especially the National Water and Electricity Company, GAMTEL (telecommunications) and Gambia Public Transport, are bankrupt and the government coffers are empty,”
Mr. Sanneh further said that “We need real help from donors to sustain the country”.
The former government for previous leader Yahya Jammeh had a frosty relationship with the west leading to the suspension of budgetary support from the World Bank.
The International Monetary Fund and African Development Bank are also expected to hold meetings with the Gambian government soon with plans of providing support.
Source: Africafeeds.com
