By Kebba A.F. Touray
National Assembly Member for Latrikunda Sabiji, Yaya M. Sanyang, has raised concerns over funding for medicines, medical supplies, nutrition programmes and sports facilities, warning that gaps in the 2027 budget estimates could undermine essential public services and the country’s sporting ambitions.
Speaking during debate on the 2027 budget estimates on Monday, 12 October 2026, Sanyang questioned the government’s allocation for nutrition, the funding of the national health insurance scheme and the absence of a maintenance fund for the country’s main stadium.
He said hospitals needed more than buildings and other physical structures to provide effective healthcare, stressing that medicines and medical supplies were equally important.
“I feel that it is on the budget, because as a country, no matter what, even though we have the structures in terms of our hospitals, we need medications and medical supplies to run these hospitals, which is indeed very important,” he told the Assembly.
Sanyang also questioned the government’s approach to funding nutrition programmes, pointing out that the country had already taken legislative steps to strengthen the sector.
“Honourable Speaker, as we speak, even though there is a nutrition programme under the Ministry of Health, it was us here who enacted a law called the National Nutrition Act, which was the first ever nutrition act in Africa,” he said.
Despite the legislation, the lawmaker said the 2027 budget had no allocation for a nutrition fund, raising questions about the government’s commitment to supporting the programme with domestic resources.
“As we are speaking, this particular budget does not even have a single [allocation] when it comes to nutrition funds. We want to depend on donor partners for what?” he asked.
Sanyang linked the funding gaps to the wider structure of the national budget, which he said depended heavily on the government’s ability to raise revenue and on external support through loans and grants.
Looking at the overall budget of about D66.7 billion, he said the government expected to finance 73 per cent of the spending through resources it could mobilise, while the remaining 27 per cent would depend on loans and grants.
“Looking at the 27%, we rely on loans and grants. And we know very well that if these grants don’t come, we must go in for the loans,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the country’s debt, referring to the D144 billion figure raised during the debate by another lawmaker.
“144 billion is a concern, Honourable Speaker,” Sanyang said.
Turning to other health sector allocations, he highlighted mental health services and the national health insurance scheme, questioning whether the amount provided for the insurance programme was sufficient.
He urged lawmakers to take the scheme seriously, arguing that its benefits extended to members of the public, including parliamentarians and their families.
“I think it is high time for us to leave it,” he said, before warning against what he described as the continued lack of seriousness surrounding the scheme.
“We cannot be playing with this health insurance scheme, knowing fully well that it is what will benefit all of us, including us as members of parliament, with our families,” he told the Assembly.
Sanyang also questioned the allocation of D60 million to the health insurance scheme, asking whether the amount was adequate to support its objectives.
“What is 60 million towards the health insurance scheme? I think this is a very big concern,” he said.
The Latrikunda Sabiji lawmaker then turned his attention to youth and sports, describing the state of sporting facilities as a major concern for young people.
He said the condition of the country’s stadium and the lack of proper training facilities raised questions about the government’s commitment to developing sports and improving the performance of national teams.
“As we are speaking right now, this particular budget, we all know that even Old Trafford is older than the stadium, our own stadium. Old Trafford is older than our stadium,” he said, comparing the country’s main stadium with Manchester United’s home ground in England.
“But how is Old Trafford still standing and surviving? In this budget, there is no maintenance fund for the stadium.”
He questioned how the country could expect its national football team to compete successfully at international level without adequate investment in sports infrastructure.
“And we want to win games. We want to win football games on behalf of The Gambia. How do we expect that to happen?” he asked.
Sanyang also drew attention to the lack of indoor courts for volleyball and basketball, saying the situation placed Gambian athletes at a disadvantage when competing against teams accustomed to such facilities.
He cited a recent international competition in which a Gambian national team struggled after playing in an indoor court, a setting he said the players were not used to.
“Recently, the national team went out to compete. They took them to an indoor court. They could not survive even the first round, unfortunately,” he said.
He attributed the difficulty to the players’ lack of experience with the type of playing environment they encountered.
“Because they were surrounded and they didn’t know what to do next. Because they are not used to that,” he said.
The lawmaker further lamented the absence of proper training grounds, questioning the country’s preparations for international sporting events.
“Even a training ground we don’t have in this country,” he said.
Referring to Somalia’s visit to The Gambia, Sanyang questioned the decision to take the visiting team to Mboyo Field.
“When Somalia came, we took them to Mboyo Field. What are we thinking?” he asked.
He said the country’s sporting ambitions would remain difficult to achieve without improved facilities and greater attention to the needs of young athletes, adding that the concerns were already weighing on young people.
“And we want to progress as far as POM is concerned in this country. And this is why young people, as we are speaking right now as parliament, are thinking of embarking on this,” Sanyang said.
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