Banjul, 25 March 2026: His Excellency President Adama Barrow on Tuesday, 17th March, received a high-level delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Deputy Managing Director Bo Li, at State House in Banjul.
Following the meeting, the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Honourable Sidi Keita, told the press that the visit was a courtesy call to welcome Deputy Managing Director Bo Li, who is on a two-day official visit to The Gambia. He added that the meeting provided an opportunity to brief the President on the ongoing IMF engagement with the country and highlight the progress The Gambia has made in implementing IMF-supported programs.
He added that, Deputy Managing Director Bo Li also briefed President Barrow on the strong partnership between The Gambia and the IMF. Noting that his visit coincided with the Climate Roundtable Conference hosted by The Gambia, in the context of the recently approved Resilience and Sustainability Multi-Donor Fund (RSM).
Speaking to the press, Bo Li said, “I had the honor of meeting President Barrow. This is my first visit to The Gambia, the ‘Smiling Coast of Africa,’ and I am grateful for the warm hospitality of the Gambian people. I discussed with the President, Minister of Finance, and Governor of the Central Bank the achievements of the Gambian economy over the past several years.”
He commended Gambian authorities for their strong commitment to safeguarding macroeconomic stability and advancing structural reforms, describing these efforts as critical for sustainable growth. Bo Li emphasized that the partnership between The Gambia and the IMF is reflected in the country’s two ongoing programs the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the IMF-supported Reform Program (IRF) as well as numerous technical assistance projects.
Looking ahead, he highlighted the importance of maintaining reform momentum through fiscal discipline, debt reduction, and policies that support economic growth. “These policies will foster a vibrant private sector and support essential priority spending in job creation, healthcare, and energy,” he stated.
Bo Li also expressed appreciation to Gambian authorities for hosting the Climate Financing Roundtable in collaboration with the World Bank. “Climate change poses a major macroeconomic risk to The Gambia. Addressing it will require policy reform, capacity building, and innovative financing solutions. I thank President Barrow, Minister Keita, and Governor Saidy for their partnership,” he concluded.
The delegation was accompanied by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Honourable Sidi Keita and Mr Buah Saidy, Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia.
By Lamin Kujabi
