Gov’t pays D1.36bn in first quarter debt repayment
Presenting an oral ministerial statement on the implementation and monitoring of the annual budget, the minister said National Debt Service recorded an outturn of GMD1.36 billion in the first quarter, representing a 10.10 percent execution rate. “This reflects the timing of scheduled debt repayment obligations and should not be read as an implementation challenge,” the statement said. The debt repayments formed part of the overall Gambia Local Fund (GLF) expenditure and net lending of GMD7.87 billion recorded during the first quarter of 2026, representing 22 percent of the annual budget. The statement identified personnel emoluments, subsidies and transfers to subvented institutions, and debt interest payments as the main drivers of government spending during the period. Personnel emoluments amounted to GMD 2.45 billion, subsidies and transfers stood at GMD 2.14 billion, while debt interest payments accounted for GMD 1.36 billion. Despite the spending, the government recorded a deficit of GMD 195.84 million in the first quarter, a figure that was 68 percent below the budgeted deficit of GMD 615.44 million. Compared to the same period in 2025, the deficit was lower by GMD 391.41 million, or 67 percent. Current expenditure totalled GMD 7.13 billion, representing 20 percent of its approved annual budget of GMD 36.18 billion. According to the statement, this was only GMD 149.96 million, or 2 percent higher than spending recorded during the same period last year. Capital expenditure reached GMD 738.74 million, representing 21 percent of its approved annual budget of GMD 3.54 billion. However, this was GMD 409.18 million lower than the amount spent during the corresponding period in 2025. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education emerged as the largest spender during the quarter with an execution rate of 25.79 percent, driven by salaries, school feeding programmes, School Improvement Grants and textbook printing. The Ministry of Agriculture recorded the highest execution rate at 43.03 percent, supported by GMD 450 million in groundnut subsidies, GMD 177.4 million in agricultural input subsidies and the purchase of 90 tractors valued at GMD 35 million. The Ministry of Health posted a 21.01 percent execution rate, while the Ministry of Interior spent 23.31 percent of its approved budget. The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure recorded a 24.55 percent execution rate, driven largely by contractor payments exceeding GMD 652 million for ongoing road and construction projects. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy recorded the lowest execution rate at 1.02 percent, largely because no expenditure had yet been incurred under the GMD 1 billion energy subsidy provision. The Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms and Policy Coordination recorded a 6.42 percent execution rate, while Centralized Services posted a 13.23 percent execution rate, driven mainly by the GMD 80 million subsidy to NAWEC and GMD 60.5 million for confirmed debts.
Black News 
Presenting an oral ministerial statement on the implementation and monitoring of the annual budget, the minister said National Debt Service recorded an outturn of GMD1.36 billion in the first quarter, representing a 10.10 percent execution rate.
“This reflects the timing of scheduled debt repayment obligations and should not be read as an implementation challenge,” the statement said.
The debt repayments formed part of the overall Gambia Local Fund (GLF) expenditure and net lending of GMD7.87 billion recorded during the first quarter of 2026, representing 22 percent of the annual budget.
The statement identified personnel emoluments, subsidies and transfers to subvented institutions, and debt interest payments as the main drivers of government spending during the period. Personnel emoluments amounted to GMD 2.45 billion, subsidies and transfers stood at GMD 2.14 billion, while debt interest payments accounted for GMD 1.36 billion.
Despite the spending, the government recorded a deficit of GMD 195.84 million in the first quarter, a figure that was 68 percent below the budgeted deficit of GMD 615.44 million. Compared to the same period in 2025, the deficit was lower by GMD 391.41 million, or 67 percent.
Current expenditure totalled GMD 7.13 billion, representing 20 percent of its approved annual budget of GMD 36.18 billion. According to the statement, this was only GMD 149.96 million, or 2 percent higher than spending recorded during the same period last year.
Capital expenditure reached GMD 738.74 million, representing 21 percent of its approved annual budget of GMD 3.54 billion. However, this was GMD 409.18 million lower than the amount spent during the corresponding period in 2025.
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education emerged as the largest spender during the quarter with an execution rate of 25.79 percent, driven by salaries, school feeding programmes, School Improvement Grants and textbook printing.
The Ministry of Agriculture recorded the highest execution rate at 43.03 percent, supported by GMD 450 million in groundnut subsidies, GMD 177.4 million in agricultural input subsidies and the purchase of 90 tractors valued at GMD 35 million.
The Ministry of Health posted a 21.01 percent execution rate, while the Ministry of Interior spent 23.31 percent of its approved budget. The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure recorded a 24.55 percent execution rate, driven largely by contractor payments exceeding GMD 652 million for ongoing road and construction projects.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy recorded the lowest execution rate at 1.02 percent, largely because no expenditure had yet been incurred under the GMD 1 billion energy subsidy provision.
The Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms and Policy Coordination recorded a 6.42 percent execution rate, while Centralized Services posted a 13.23 percent execution rate, driven mainly by the GMD 80 million subsidy to NAWEC and GMD 60.5 million for confirmed debts.
