The Civic Scribe: Articles & Poems

The Gambia, West Africa’s smallest nation, is celebrated for its stunning beaches, rich birdlife, and remarkable 2017 democratic transition. Yet, beneath this hopeful surface lurks an insidious force crippling its economic potential: “teri kafos.” This Mandinka term, translating to “eating alone by a club of friends,” encapsulates a pervasive culture of corruption, patronage, and self-enrichment by those in power. While brutally institutionalized under Yahya Jammeh, its roots reach back further, and its persistence into the Adama Barrow era demonstrates how deeply it continues to suffocate this resilient nation’s quest for sustainable prosperity.

The Roots: Patronage Under Sir Dawda Jawara
The era of Sir Dawda Jawara (1965-1994), often remembered for its relative stability and democratic facade compared to Jammeh’s tyranny, nonetheless laid groundwork for the “teri kafos” culture. Patronage networks, favouritism in state appointments and contracts, and the consolidation of economic benefits among a connected elite became increasingly entrenched. While not characterized by brazen kleptocracy, Jawara’s later years saw the state apparatus used to reward loyalty, stifle dissent, and allow subtle forms of self-enrichment to flourish, normalizing proximity to power as the primary path to economic security and weakening institutional integrity.

Jammeh’s Brutal Feast: Teri Kafos as State Doctrine
Under Yahya Jammeh’s authoritarian rule, teri kafos metastasized into the de facto state ideology. Public coffers were plundered as personal fiefdoms. Institutions were systematically hollowed out and weaponized. As Finance Minister Amadou Sanneh, himself imprisoned by Jammeh, described inheriting a “broken” and “bankrupt” country in 2017: “Most institutions were affected… Institutional processes were broken and a lot of the state-owned institutions were near bankruptcy. Every sector was damaged.”

The Barrow Era: Reform Amidst Persistent Shadows
Adama Barrow’s administration, elected on a wave of hope for democratic renewal and economic recovery, inherited this poisoned legacy. While achieving commendable progress in macroeconomic stabilization (GDP growth ~5.3% in 2023, public debt reduced from 120% to ~71.8% of GDP) and restoring basic freedoms, the Barrow government has struggled to dismantle the entrenched “teri kafos” culture. Reform efforts exist: Public Financial Management (PFM) reforms, digital transformation initiatives, and engagement with international partners (IMF, World Bank, AfDB) on governance are underway. However, persistent challenges undermine progress:

• Allegations of Patronage & Nepotism: Critics point to appointments based on political loyalty or regional/ethnic affiliation rather than merit, echoing past patterns and weakening institutional capacity.
• Procurement Scandals & Opaque Dealings: Reports of irregularities in public tenders and concerns over transparency in significant contracts (e.g., energy, infrastructure projects) continue to surface, fostering public distrust and deterring investment.
• Slow Pace of Anti-Corruption Action: While institutions like the Anti-Corruption Commission (GACC) exist, high-profile prosecutions for grand corruption, especially related to Jammeh-era plunder or current malfeasance, have been slow and limited, raising questions about political will.
• “Business as Usual” Bureaucracy: Petty corruption and demands for bribes within mid-level bureaucracy, a key facet of teri kafos, remain a significant burden for citizens and businesses, despite rhetorical commitments to change.

The Tangible Economic Toll of “Eating Alone” – A Continuing Burden

The economic devastation wrought by this persistent culture across regimes is profound and multifaceted:

1. Siphoning Public Resources: From Jawara-era patronage diverting opportunities, to Jammeh’s looting, to current misallocations and leakages under Barrow, teri kafos drains funds for infrastructure, healthcare, and education. Consider the estimated $83 million lost annually (5.1% of GDP) due to child undernutrition – worsened by resources siphoned from nutrition and health programs. Every stolen Dalasi is one not spent on roads, teachers, or power grids.
2. Stifling Private Enterprise and Investment: The uneven playing field persists. Success often still hinges on connections. The Gambia Chamber of Commerce consistently highlights complaints about “excessive and inconsistently applied bureaucratic procedures” and opaque public tenders – issues still prevalent under Barrow. This discourages domestic entrepreneurs and vital FDI, as investors fear contracts favor patronage, not merit.
3. Distorting Markets and Creating Inefficiency: Cronyism and monopolistic tendencies, while less overt than under Jammeh, still distort markets under Barrow. Inefficient businesses may survive on political connections, inflating costs. High commercial bank interest rates (historically ~24%) reflect enduring systemic inefficiencies and governance risks.
4. Eroding Human Capital and Productivity: Corruption continues to undermine investment in people. Despite efforts, education and healthcare systems suffer from underfunding and inefficiency. Reports of “significant underutilization” of labor, “low labor force participation,” and “large gender disparities” persist. The 2023 unemployment crisis (~31.6%) and debilitating brain drain are fueled by a system still failing to equip youth and create fair job markets.
5. Undermining Fiscal Stability: Despite Barrow’s progress reducing debt, The Gambia remains at “high risk of debt distress.” Corruption, including weak revenue collection (tax revenue only 9.8% of GDP in 2023) due to evasion and inefficiency, threatens stability by increasing borrowing needs and starving essential investment.

Beyond Individual Leaders: A Systemic and Cultural Cancer

Teri kafos is not confined to any single ruler; it’s a deeply ingrained systemic and cultural challenge. Patronage networks, petty bribery, and misuse of position persist within state institutions under Barrow, creating uncertainty and hindering the full impact of reforms. While the vibrant post-2017 media and freedom of speech are crucial accountability tools, translating scrutiny into systemic change against such entrenched practices remains daunting.

Breaking the Cycle: The Path Forward – Urgency Under Barrow

Ending teri kafos requires building resilient systems, not just rhetoric. The Barrow administration and Gambian society must demonstrate relentless focus on:

1. Strengthening Institutions: Ensure robust independence and resources for the GACC, judiciary, and auditors. Accelerate implementation of transparent, digitalized PFM systems.
2. Enforcing Radical Transparency: Mandate proactive disclosure of all government contracts, budgets, and beneficial ownership. Empower citizens and civil society with accessible data and tools.
3. Investing in Tangible Accountability: Vigorously support investigative journalism, enforce strong whistleblower protection laws, and ensure the judiciary acts independently on corruption cases. Fast-track high-impact prosecutions.
4. Exemplifying a Culture of Integrity: Ethical conduct must start unequivocally at the top. Barrow and his cabinet must be beyond reproach. Civic education on corruption’s societal cost is vital.
5. Empowering the Private Sector Fairly: Move beyond streamlining rhetoric to tangible, consistent action: transparent procurement, fair competition law enforcement, and ending bureaucratic harassment.

Key Reforms Under Barrow & The Critical Need for Results:

• PFM Reforms: Must demonstrably reduce leakages and increase accountability.
• Digital Transformation: Needs rapid scaling to reduce cash/bribes and increase traceability (e.g., digital ID, services, payments).
• Anti-Corruption Commission (GACC): Requires unwavering political support, resources, and independence to investigate and prosecute powerful figures credibly.
• Asset Recovery & Management: Transparent recovery of Jammeh-era assets and open management of current assets (e.g., Senegambia Bridge) are crucial tests.
• Judicial Independence: Essential for enforcing all other reforms and holding power accountable.

A Glimmer of Hope, But No Time for Complacency – The Barrow Imperative

The Gambian economy’s resilience and the people’s commitment to democracy are powerful assets. The international community must provide sustained, conditional support for governance reforms.

However, sustainable, inclusive growth – lifting all Gambians from poverty (still ~16.2% in 2024) and creating youth opportunity – will remain elusive as long as teri kafos persists. It drains resources, distorts markets, discourages investment, and erodes human capital – a stranglehold tightened over decades and not yet broken under Barrow. President Barrow’s government faces a defining test: treating the fight against this corrosive culture as the central economic battleground, moving beyond stabilization to genuine systemic reform. The future depends on transforming “eating alone” into investing and building together. The smiling coast deserves an economy where benefits are shared by the many, not consumed by the few across generations, including the present one.