What unfolded at the Westfield Monument was not just a protest; it was a collective reckoning.
Staged by Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), this demonstration marked a watershed moment in the country’s civic consciousness as ordinary citizens both young and old, from all walks of life, stood shoulder-to-shoulder to demand integrity, transparency, and justice.
The message was unambiguous: the era of silent suffering is over. The Gambia has long battled the scourge of corruption. From the looting of state assets under former President Yahya Jammeh to the recent 300-million-dalasi scandal at the Gambia Ports Authority, trust in public institutions has been steadily eroded.
Promises of reform have rung hollow, and government accountability has often been limited to shadows without action. But now, the people especially the youth are reclaiming their voice and demanding more.
GALA’s demands are both urgent and legitimate: full recovery and transparent accounting of looted public funds, publication and implementation of the Janneh Commission’s recommendations, prosecution not just exposure of corrupt officials, and justice for the 66 children, who died due to contaminated cough syrup. These are not radical requests. They are the minimum standards of governance in a functioning democracy.
What even sets this protest apart is not just its scale, but rather its character. Disciplined, peaceful, and purposeful, the demonstration was a testament to a maturing civic movement. It was not fueled by political partisanship or foreign influence, but by a genuine desire to build a better country. Protesters were not clamouring for handouts or favours; but they were signing petitions, engaging institutions, and calling for systemic change. This is what true patriotism looks like.
The government must not ignore this moment. To dismiss these cries as youthful exuberance or political mischief would be a grave miscalculation. The voices at Westfield represent a cross-section of Gambian society, one that is fed up with mismanagement and betrayal. The cost of ignoring this movement is not just political; it is societal.
As one protester, Abubacarr Makalo rightly put it: “corruption is not a mere policy failure, it is a life-and-death issue. It affects healthcare, education, job creation, and human dignity.”
Furthermore, the youth who make up the majority of the population are watching. Many of them are no longer satisfied with promises of future prosperity; they are demanding results now. And rightly so. They have inherited a country rich in potential, but held hostage by greed and negligence. The time to act is not tomorrow or next year, it is today.
GALA’s promise to model transparency and civic responsibility should be commended. If civil society can hold itself accountable, the same must be expected indeed, demanded of those in power. Institutions like the Office of the President, the National Assembly, and oversight bodies must rise to the occasion. The people have spoken and spoken louder. Their petitions are not just paper, they are a referendum on leadership.
In this historic moment, The Gambia stands at a crossroads. One path leads to continued decay, where corruption thrives and hope fades away. The other leads to renewal, a new social contract based on accountability, justice, and service to the people.
The choice should be obvious and The Gambia must choose integrity. It must choose action. And it must listen to its people before the people are forced to raise their voices again. The time for change is not coming and it is here.