The Daily Observer (Banjul)
22 December 2011
editorial
The government of The Gambia under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs yesterday launched the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) in Kanilai. The programme, which is coming at the very end of the second Poverty Reduction Strategy Programme seeks to enhance further the productive base of the economy through maximising its growth potentials which will in turn accommodate employment.
The relevance and timeliness of PAGE cannot herein be overemphasised. PRSP is now history and statistical data shows that inspite of the huge success registered by the PRSP, poverty and unemployment continues to pose challenges to national development. Initiating such a programme to curb these two social menaces shows the readiness of the state to accomplish national development blueprint.
Development by itself is an evolutionary process and requires ever changing policies and structures to achieve its objectives. PAGE, if successfully implemented will greatly expedite our development. The political will ofcourse is in place to guarantee its success as the leadership has a strong desire for the development of The Gambia.
From close scrutiny of our development process particularly on the part of infrastructure, one can easily come to the conclusion that the government is not relenting in its part of creating the necessary environment that permits the fulfilment of the people. Much more, it takes only a leader that has at the core of his government policies, the need for the fulfilment of the needs and aspiration of the people that become innovative, creative and design adequate development programmes and policies to that end.
What is required is for all stakeholders in development to embrace PAGE with open arms and integrate with government to ensure the realisation of its objectives. There is in place the necessary infrastructure, political will and greater part of the capacity needed to make the programme work. The challenge is for all and sundry to adopt to the demands, commitments and dynamics that this new programme would require so that collectively we can reduce drastically poverty and unemployment in the country.
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