By Lamarana S. Jallow
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, last week led a high-level delegation to the National Assembly to engage with the Select Committee on Youth and Sports following an official invitation. The team included Deputy Permanent Secretaries for Administration and Finance, and Technical, as well as heads of key institutions under the Ministry.
The engagement aimed to clarify the Ministry’s operations and present a report on the implementation of its quarterly budget for the period from January 1st to March 31st, 2025.
In his statement, Minister Badjie underscored the importance of inter-institutional collaboration for effective youth empowerment. He expressed concern that although various youth initiatives exist across sectors, the Ministry’s limited participation in their design and execution reduces the overall impact.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Administration and Finance, Mr. Lamin A. Camara, provided insight into the Ministry’s 2025 financials, revealing that out of an approved budget of D118.6 million, only D19.6 million, just 16.6%, had been disbursed. He attributed the delay to bureaucratic challenges at the Ministry of Finance.
Leaders of satellite institutions also provided updates on their activities. Mr. Pa Malick Ceesay of the President’s International Award (PIA) and Mr. Mustapha Badjie of the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSS) highlighted ongoing challenges, including poor conditions at the Janjanbureh Youth Centre, the need for fencing at football fields, infrastructural demands at the NYSS farm in Nyani Berry, and urgent improvements needed at the Gambia Songhai Initiative (GSI).
In response, Minister Badjie assured the committee of the Ministry’s readiness to tackle these issues, provided sufficient resources are made available.
Mr. Mbye Saine, Coordinator of the GSI, highlighted the initiative’s positive impact on local youth, while the PIA shared updates on renovation works, including the establishment of a new conference hall, bakery, tailoring showroom, and shoemaking centre.
The Executive Director of the National Youth Council, Mr. Alagie Jarju, emphasised the need for stronger leadership in the management of the Janjanbureh Youth Centre, calling for a more proactive and results-oriented approach.
Minister Badjie concluded by appealing for continued support from the committee in advocating increased funding. He reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to youth empowerment and the development of sports nationwide.
The session was presided over by Honourable Alieu Baldeh, National Assembly Member for Jarra West.
