In a statement signed by the clerk of the National Youth Parliament, Abdoulie O. Bah, the 2024 budget allocated to the Ministry of Youth and Sports is both ‘disheartening and emblematic of a broader challenge.’
“The revelation of a meager 0.42% allocated to the Ministry of Youths and Sports is both disheartening and emblematic of a broader challenge. The current budgetary landscape, as revealed in the 2024 estimates, with a modest D122,395,000 allotted and a mere 10.44% dedicated to Capital Expenditure, calls for a re-evaluation of strategic financial planning. The overwhelming 89.56% allocation to Recurrent Expenditure highlights the need for a more forward-looking, youth-centric approach.” the release stated.
The implications of this skewed budgetary allocation, the release added, extends beyond mere numbers ‘touching on the very heart of The Gambia's development aspirations.
“The National Youth Parliament (NYP), as the embodiment of youth representation, actively champions the cause of young Gambians. It stands as a beacon, urging stakeholders and duty bearers to recognize the potential, innovation, and resilience inherent in the youth.”
The release further stated that The Gambia stands at a pivotal juncture, where the vibrancy of its youthful population collides with the stark reality of a disproportionately minimal allocation to the Ministry of Youths and Sports in the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
“A thorough examination of the 2022-23 Gambia Labour Force Report underscores the pressing need to reconsider the allocation of resources. With youths comprising over 60% of the population, their role in shaping the nation's trajectory is unparalleled. However, this demographic advantage is not commensurately reflected in the national budget, emphasising the critical importance of aligning fiscal priorities with the needs of the burgeoning youth population.” it stated.
“In the context of the number one (1) resolution of the 9th National Youth Parliament Sitting of the 2023 Legislative Year, these budgetary discrepancies serve as a clarion call for a holistic reexamination. The NYP, being the voice of the youth, advocates for a paradigm shift in fiscal priorities. Aligning budgetary decisions with the resolutions of the National Youth Parliament underscores the collective commitment to fostering the development of young Gambians.”
Prioritising youth in national budget allocations, the release added, transcends fiscal prudence; it becomes a moral and strategic imperative.
“The NYP, as the vanguard of youth representation, emphasises that the time is ripe for a fundamental rethink. The youth's role in steering the nation towards prosperity cannot be understated. By revisiting budgetary allocations, we not only affirm our commitment to nurturing the immense potential of the youth but also signal the initiation of a transformative era.”
Therefore, National Youth Parliament, the release added, amplifies the need to invest not just in numbers but in the boundless potential that lies within each young Gambian.
“This clarion call for a more balanced budgetary approach is a pledge to create a brighter, more prosperous future for all, with the youth taking center stage in the narrative of national development.”
