Drawing on a nationwide survey of 1,556 respondents and sectoral data, the index reveals that 90% of Gambians believe corruption is widespread, with 67% rating it as “very high” and 23% describing it as “high.” Only a negligible 4% believe corruption is low or non-existent.
The findings underscore a crisis of confidence in governance. While most respondents (72%) said they would report corruption to the police, the same institution emerged as the most distrusted and most corrupt, with 63% naming the police as the worst offender. Other sectors flagged for high levels of corruption include health (39%), immigration (34%), NAWEC (20%), and revenue collection (19%). Bribery, nepotism, and selective justice were cited as the most common forms of abuse.
Perceptions varied by region. Banjul recorded the highest distrust, with 94% of residents saying corruption is “very high,” while Basse displayed a more mixed outlook, with 59% rating corruption as very high but 8% insisting it does not exist. Across the board, however, trust in institutions remains fragile, with only 18% of Gambians confident that authorities would act on corruption reports, compared to 50% who expressed outright distrust.
The report also points to weak visibility of formal accountability institutions. Only 14% of respondents mentioned the Anti-Corruption Commission (once established) as a reporting channel, and just 18% cited the Ombudsman, highlighting both low awareness and fragile confidence in formal oversight bodies.
Gambia Participates recommends urgent measures, including the establishment of an effective Anti-Corruption Commission, reforms to strengthen accountability systems, and nationwide awareness campaigns to educate citizens on reporting mechanisms. The report also stresses the need to leverage civil society, the media, and youth movements as watchdogs, while ensuring the inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in anti-graft efforts.
The index further shows that corruption is seen as worsening, with 81% of respondents saying it has increased in the past year. Only 5% believe it has decreased. This reflects growing frustration with what many see as the government’s weak political will in tackling graft.
Founded in 2016, Gambia Participates has long championed good governance and accountability through data-driven advocacy. With the release of the GCI, the organisation hopes to provide a credible tool for government, civil society, development partners, and oversight bodies to strengthen anti-corruption interventions and restore public trust.
