Thread by @Presidency_GMB

@BarrowPresident will today deliver the State of the Nation Address for the 2021 Legislative Year at the @GambiaAssembly.

During the address, the President will give an account of the developments that his government has undertaken in 2020-2021 Legislative Year.
#SONA2021

“Economic growth in The Gambia has been impressive since 2017, with real GDP averaging 6% up to 2019. In 2020, growth was projected at 6.5%, but the pandemic outbreak compelled a revised GDP estimate of minus 1.5%.” #SONA2021

“Despite the economic challenges, domestic resource mobilisation in 2020 amounted to an incredible performance of 13.4 Billion Dalasis. Of this, 11.8 Billion Dalasis was tax revenue and D1.8 Billion Dalasis non-tax revenue.” #SONA2021

“Generally, revenue collection fell due to the COVID-19 outbreak; however, grants increased significantly. These came mainly in the form of budget support from Development Partners, especially the #EU, to ease the economic burden of the pandemic on the Government.”#SONA2021

Basic&Secondary Education

The country continues to make impressive gains on enrolment at all levels of the education sector. Gross Enrolment Rates have improved by 5.2 percentage points at the Lower Basic level, 2.4 and 1.6 per cent at Upper and senior levels, respectively.

Enrolment for Early Childhood Development is above the National Development Plan (NDP) target of 50.2% and 52.9% by four (4) per cent for male and female enrolment respectively. #SONA2021

Concerning the Zero Out-of-School Children endeavour, the Ministry is working with Education Above All Foundation in Qatar and the @OFLA_GMB to combat the out-of-school phenomenon. Similarly, we continue to put more focus on Special Needs and Inclusive Education for all.#SONA2021

Higher Education

The transformation of The Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) into a University of Applied Science and Technology (USET), the up-grading of the Management Development Institute (MDI) into a degree-awarding institute...

and the integration of Gambia College into The University of The Gambia (UTG) are in progress. In fact, the administrative process has started for the construction works of the new USET structures. #SONA2021

We hope that the Ndemban Skills Centre in Foni, West Coast Region, will begin operations next academic year to train our youths and equip them with relevant livelihood skills. #SONA2021

Interior

Apart from their regular law enforcement core mandate, The Gambia Police Force (GPF) is engaged in infrastructure development, professional advancement and training. #SONA2021

A Code of Conduct for the Police has been developed and adopted for the Anti-Crime Unit. Furthermore, an Arrest and Detention Procedure Manual is in use, after its successful development in collaboration with the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance.#SONA2021

On drug control, the National Drug Control Strategy (2019-2023) continues to foster vigilance and action against drug abuse and trafficking. The recent seizures of huge quantities of cocaine and other drugs attest to this. #SONA2021

Lands&Regional governments

In 2020, the Department of Community Development strategically focused on emergency response and recovery. This included capacity building and strengthening their decentralised structures to better address conflicts on land and natural resources....

as well as operationalise rent recovery mechanisms. The initiatives employed include harnessing positive social norms and the environment.
#SONA2021

I have noted, with appreciation, that the Department of Community Development is working amicably with the Department of Water Resources and the National Assembly to implement the Climate Smart Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Development Project.#SONA2021

The Lands and Survey Directorate updated 416 lease files in 2019 and 424 in 2020. We expect a similar trend by the end of 2021. #SONA2021

Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly

My Administration remains committed to providing access to safe drinking water and releasing timely and accurate weather and climate information. #SONA2021

To achieve this, through the support of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the Department of Water Resources will construct and install 144 solar-powered piped-water supply systems to provide safe and quality drinking water for additional 400,000 rural residents.

With help from the Japanese Government, 20 other solar-powered piped-water supply systems will be constructed and installed in 2021 to serve 80,000 persons in rural communities. #SONA2021

The fisheries sector is crucial in diversifying the economy; thus, it is reviewing its policy and regulatory frameworks to effect suitable reforms.
 In the meantime, rehabilitation of the fishponds in the Jahaly lay-out in Sapu has a production capacity of....

10,000 tonnes of quality fish to mitigate the fish supply deficit in the country. The fishponds will enhance food and nutritional security in rural communities. #SONA2021

Trade&Employment

To promote exports and investment, the Ministry, through GIEPA, successfully developed a new National Export Strategy, 2021-2025. The strategy outlines key priority areas, such as agribusiness, fashion, tourism, and fisheries. #SONA2021

To implement the revised Labour Act, MOTIE has established an Employment Service Centre at the Department of Labour. This is to facilitate linkages between job seekers and employers. The new five-year sector Strategic Plan will help to make the Centre effective.#SONA2021

Under the SheTrades Project reported last year, twelve (12) SheTrades companies benefitted from mini-grants, receiving combined support of 2.7 Million Dalasis.#SONA2021

ICT

The COVID 19 pandemic has reinforced the need for increased ICT-driven solutions, so much so that the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MoICI) has prioritised the rollout of a National Technology Hub this year. #SONA2021

To strengthen cybersecurity and protect The Gambia's cyberspace, MOICI took the initiative to formulate the Cyber Crime and Data Protection and Privacy Bills.
 
3. The Ministry will table both before this august Assembly, once they are finalised. #SONA2021

Their enactment will equip The Gambia with the requisite laws to fight cybercrime-related offenses.

In addition, in 2019, the Government tabled the Criminal Code Amendment Bill before this august Body. The objective is to repeal all the draconian Media Laws that my government inherited.

The 2021 Global Press Freedom Ranking of The Gambia, for example, has improved from ninth position in West Africa to tenth in sub-Saharan Africa.
 
With the new reforms and the increase in the number of Media Houses in the country...

which now stand at 40 radio stations, six television stations and numerous online outlets, it is evident that The Gambia is in the right direction concerning media freedoms.#SONA2021

Petroleum&Energy

The drilling component of FAR-PETRONAS is now scheduled for 2021. On the other hand, B.P.  announced a significant policy shift of reducing their exploration activities worldwide. My govr has reached a settlement with them for their work plan commitments in B A.

Based on this, 30.25 Million US Dollars has been paid to the Government as compensation for not fulfilling their obligation to drill a well as per the Licence agreement.

Despite the COVID-19 outbreak, the Electricity sub-sector registered tremendous improvements on production capacity. The power rental agreement with KARPOWER and the completion of the 11 megawatts Kotu expansion project have remarkably boosted NAWEC's ability to operate..

Thus, they are now able to meet the peak load demand in the Greater Banjul Area.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Expansion Project was completed and inaugurated in November 2020 in Kwinella. It provides electricity to over 80 communities in Kiang and the Greater Banjul Area..

Earlier, in February 2021, the 20 megawatts IDB funded project was inaugurated in Brikama.

Upcountry, the entire North Bank Region and parts of the Lower River Region now enjoy stable electricity supply. Also, as part of the final phase of the Rural Electricity Expansion Project, NAWEC has finally linked the Bansang and Basse sub-systems.

The recent commissioning of a new 2.7 megawatts engine has centralised supplies in Basse. The capacity for that region now stands above 5 megawatts. #SONA2021

Gender, Children & Social Welfare

In partnership with the Directorate of Social Welfare and the Department of Community Development, the National Nutrition Agency is leading the NaFa Quick programme to support vulnerable households.

Supported by @UNICEFGambia, as part of the COVID-19 response, this Ministry assisted 1,000 vulnerable families with children through cash transfers of 1000 Dalasis per month for three months. #SONA2021

Another important initiative is The Women Enterprise Fund (WEF). This is a flagship project of the National Development Plan 2018-2021, with the objective of strengthening the capacity of 10,000 women and girls in Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)...

The Fund provides low-interest credit to women entrepreneurs, using a group guarantee micro-credit model. #SOMA2021

Guided by the Govt’s devotion to the concept of inclusiveness, the Ministry tabled a Bill on disability here in June 2020. It was enacted this year to provide the legal basis for future Govt policies and programmes to take cognisance of the unique needs of the Differently Abled.

Environment, Climate & National Resources

Concentrating on the significant developments in this sector, I am pleased to report that the construction works of the OMVG Soma and Brikama Power Substation Projects are progressing very well.

Other initiatives, through the Large-Scale Ecosystem-Based Adaptation Project, the sector planted 4,000 hectares of degraded agricultural land, supported 40 school orchards, engaged in enrichment planting in community forests, and embarked on mangrove restoration in CRR and LRR.

On legislation, the National Environment Agency finalised the revised National Environment Management Act, the Waste Management Bill, and the Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides Management Bill, all within the year.#SONA2021

Youths & Sports

To effectively and efficiently promote youth and sports development, the Youth and Sports sector is reviewing some of their sector policies. These include the National Sports Policy and various frameworks of the satellite Institutions.#SONA2021

. In line with the development of the country's human resource base, 3,724 young persons have benefited from skills training. Some of them have already earned skills in construction and related areas. The Ministry profiled 1,000 youths for possible financial support.

These achievements are a result of the partnership built with NEDI, PIA and the NYSS.

Taking cue from the decentralisation policy for youth empowerment, the Youth and Sports Ministry signed a contract to establish agro-food centres and build nine stadiums, a bakery and an auto-mechanic centre this year.  #SONA2021

For the first time, the nation looks forward to participating in the 2022 CAF tournament, and we do so with enthusiasm and hope. We congratulate all those who raised the Gambian flag high in recent years, including the participants in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. #SONA2021

Foreign Affairs

adam Speaker,
 
At the bilateral level, engagements with countries in the ECOWAS sub-region and beyond, as well as with our development partners globally, are developing very well. #SONA2021

To cite examples, my government continues to have strong ties with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region. The United Arab Emirates, for instance, donated substantial medical items for the fight against COVID-19. #SONA2021

My Administration's engagements with key Asian partners, such as India and China, continue to be fruitful. The Government of India, for example, generously donated medical items worth over 500,000 US Dollars to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country....

Furthermore, they have pledged a grant of 500,000 US Dollars for crucial projects in our priority areas.

The Gambia Government is grateful to all its development partners and friends in Europe, Asia, America, Africa and all parts of the globe. We cherish all relations and partnerships, and will work to strengthen them. #SONA2021

Agric

The Govt's vision is to increase food and nutrition security, while enhancing economic growth through the agriculture sector. The Ministry of Agriculture strives, therefore, to increase productivity, based on the sustainable use and management of our natural resources.

To increase production and support the farming community during the 2020 cropping season, 36,489 bags of fertilizer, 3, 751 bags of improved rice varieties, 2,358 bags of groundnuts, 727 bags of maize, and 11 bags of findi were procured and made available to our farmers.