Our Pillars
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Our Core Pillars
A Blueprint for a Renewed Gambia
GOOD GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP
PROGRESS will usher in a new era of clean, efficient governance. We recognize
that government exists to serve the people, not itself. One of our first steps will
be to streamline the structures of government for maximum efficiency and
minimum waste. The current bloated cabinet of 20 ministries will be consolidated into 8 lean, functional ministries. Overlapping portfolios will be merged to eliminate duplication of roles and cut down on bureaucratic red tape. Certain ministries that are not essential for cabinet-level oversight will be downgraded to directorates run by competent technocrats, reporting to the relevant ministries.
Additionally, the Vice-President’s role will be merged with other ministerial
portfolios. By reducing the size of government, we will not only save public funds but also improve coordination and service delivery. A leaner government is a smarter, more responsive government, one that spends money on public needs instead of maintaining unnecessary offices.
SOCIAL PROGRESS AND INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Investing in our people is the cornerstone of national development. PROGRESS’s social agenda will build human capital, promote equality, and strengthen the fabric of our society. Central to this is a radical transformation of our education system. Education is the great equalizer and the engine of social progress, yet in its current state it is not equipping our youth to thrive. We will institute a comprehensive reform from basic schooling to higher education and vocational training. First and foremost, we affirm that every Gambian child has the right to quality education.
FREE AND COMPULSORY QUALITY EDICATION: To realize that, we will make education free and compulsory from Grade 1 through Grade 12, ensuring no child is left behind due to inability to pay or lack of access. But access is only the beginning; we must also revolutionize what and how we teach. Under PROGRESS, the curriculum will be redesigned to meet the needs of the 21st century and to reflect our national values.
ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE AND PROSPERITY
Our economic vision centers on making The Gambia self-reliant and prosperous through the intelligent use of our unique resources. The Gambia may not boast oil fields or diamond mines, but we refuse to accept that as a fate of poverty. We will define and harness our own “natural resources” — those assets that, if managed wisely, can drive our progress. These include our durable land, our river and ocean coastline, our strategic location, and above all, our people.
The Gambia’s fertile soil, spanning the banks of a great river and an 80-kilometer Atlantic coastline, holds untapped potential for agriculture, aquaculture, trade, and renewable energy. Even more importantly, our youthful population is a vast reservoir of talent, creativity, and energy. Under a PROGRESS government, we will invest heavily in this human capital so that Gambians have the education and skills to innovate and excel. By leveraging technology and forming strategic partnerships, we will modernize agriculture and fisheries, turning these sectors into engines of growth.
NATIONAL SECURITY AND GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT
Peace and security are essential prerequisites for everything else in this manifesto. Without stability, our plans for prosperity and social progress cannot take root. PROGRESS is committed to ensuring that Gambians live in a safe and secure environment under the protection of disciplined, professional security forces. We will reform our security sector, including the military, police, and intelligence services to uphold professionalism, patriotism, and respect for human rights. Recruitment into the armed forces and police will be strictly merit-based and reflective of the nation’s diversity, eliminating favoritism or political influence in the ranks. We will improve training at all levels, from basic instruction to advanced tactical and leadership courses, so that our soldiers and officers are well-prepared to handle modern security challenges. Better pay and living conditions for service members will also be a priority, because those who risk their lives for the nation deserve decent living standards and should not be driven to corruption or side jobs to make ends meet.
It is time for real PROGRESS.
Join the movement anchored on transparency, accountability, inclusivity, and innovation, where every citizen enjoys equal opportunity to thrive.