Gambian President Barrow vows economic progress at start of second term

Reuters | Gambian President Adama Barrow on Wednesday pledged to work to jumpstart the economy and ensure broad-based development gains as he was sworn in for a second 5-year term in office.

Barrow, 56, came to power in 2017 by unseating his autocratic predecessor Yahya Jammeh at the polls. He comfortably won re-election last month with 53 percent of the first-round vote.

During his first term, he improved relations with many foreign countries that had cooled under Jammeh’s 22-year tenure and worked to restore civil liberties that were repressed during that period.

He faced a challenge reviving the economy of mainland Africa’s smallest country. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the economy into recession in 2020, keeping away tourists from its white-sand beaches.

Growth is estimated to have bounced back to around 5 percent last year.

“Today we can comfortably conclude that my election to another 5 years is a vote of confidence in my government, a vote of acknowledgment of my achievements,” said Barrow, after being sworn in before an audience that included several other West African heads of state.

“2022 to 2027 is a period to press on for accelerated growth, expansion and advancement. The focus now centers on economic development,” he said.

He reiterated a previous commitment to introduce a new constitution. He has previously said it would introduce presidential term limits but has not said whether that would prevent him from seeking additional terms.

Barrow had pledged as a candidate in 2016 to only serve 3 years if he was elected but later went back on that commitment.