By Fatou Bojang
In a strong response to criticism from the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, has urged local government councils under UDP leadership to take proactive steps in developing sports facilities for the youth. He emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in improving the nation’s sports infrastructure.
The debate over youth sports development in The Gambia intensified this week as Minister Badjie challenged the UDP-led councils to increase their contributions. Tombong Saidy, the UDP’s administrative secretary for media and communications, triggered his remarks. He accused the government of neglecting the youth and failing to provide adequate facilities, notably criticizing the “unapproved” Independence Stadium as a national disgrace.
Minister Badjie countered Saidy’s claims by pointing out that the UDP-led councils have not initiated any youth or sports projects at either the local or national level. “If they want to convince the public that they can improve sports when in power, they should demonstrate their commitment now,” Badjie stated in a recent interview on Coffee Time.
He further emphasized that developing municipal parks and sports facilities is typically the responsibility of local councils worldwide, including in neighboring Senegal. “This is our challenge to them,” Badjie declared, urging the UDP councils to prioritize the needs of young people by investing taxpayer money into sports infrastructure.
The minister’s comments serve as a call to action, encouraging local councils to take ownership in fostering a vibrant sports culture. “Let the young people see these initiatives so they can hold them accountable if elected to central government,” he added, advocating for transparency and accountability in local governance.
As the dialogue continues, the minister’s challenge reminds us that developing sports in The Gambia is a collective responsibility, requiring collaboration between government bodies and local councils to meet the aspirations of the nation’s youth.
