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The Ministry of Youth & Sports , led by Honourable Minister Bakary Y. Badjie, Tuesday held a press conference to brief the media on the progress of the Independence Stadium renovation and to clarify audit concerns. The Minister explained that although the project was launched in January 2023 but actual works commence in June 2023, making the effective work period about two and a half years and not five years, as widely claimed. He also reminded the public that AFCON matches played in 2021 were done under temporary approval, before full redevelopment officially started. On the pitch, Minister Badjie confirmed that the stadium will remain a hybrid pitch . Specialized equipment has now been secured, and an international expert company, Gregori international, has been engaged to handle the technical pitch works, while supervision on the work remain under the Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure, Gambia-MOTWI . “The pitch is currently in the grass establishment phase, which involves reseeding and surface dressing to ensure durability and quality. These ongoing works are part of the normal process toward delivering a world-class playing surface” Hon Badjie emphasize. Below are photos highlighting the ongoing works, along with the materials and equipment purchased for the construction and maintenance of the pitch. More updates will be shared in our next edition.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports shared the following message on his official Facebook page highlighting ongoing grassroots sports development efforts: “More and more sport committees are taking up initiatives to start self-help projects in their sport fields as the Ministry of Youth & Sports encourage sport infrastructure improvement in major sporting centers. The latest is the Kunkujang Keitaya Sport Committee, who, after completing the fencing of their football field, have started a new project to construct Dressing Rooms at their field. As initial funding for this project is primarily from cash donations from myself, Hon. Mod Ceesay, now Minister of Trade and Mr. Amadou Sanneh, I was given the honor to set the ball rolling with the symbolic laying of the first brick for the project. The brief ceremony was held yesterday at the football field during the final of the league named after me. Upon completion, the building will have rooms for the two teams, referees, and an office, with the committee leveraging on monies raised from the gate taken to complete the project.”

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports shared the following message on his official Facebook page after participating in the 9th Stake of the Nation Forum (9SNF 2025): “Yesterday, I participated in the 9th Stake of the Nation Forum (9SNF 2025) under the theme “Enhancing Participation in the Productive Sector”. The forum brought together government officials, development partners, the private sector, and members of the diplomatic corps. The focus of this year is the launch of the Biri-Biri Initiative on Sports and Tourism which seeks to use sports to promote tourism between The Gambia and Spain, leveraging on the legacy of legendary Gambian late footballer Momodou Njie Biri Biri. In my introductory statement, I applauded the initiative by the GK Partners, supported by the Ministry of Youth & Sports and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture with the coordination of the Vice President – The Gambia.”

Today, we celebrate not only the birthday of our Honourable Minister Bakary Y. Badjie but also five remarkable years of purposeful leadership at the Ministry. Since your assumption of office, the Ministry has witnessed visible transformation. From strengthening staff capacity through continuous professional development, to the construction and rehabilitation of football fields across rural Gambia including the “Mboyo” field our impact has been both evident and lasting. The finalisation of the Sports Bill, renewed support to grassroots sports, and sustained assistance to sports associations and federations have further laid a strong foundation for inclusive sports development nationwide. These achievements, among many others, speak volumes about your commitment, vision, and passion for advancing youth development and sports promotion. Under your leadership, the Ministry continues to grow in strength and direction, and you remain a role model whose dedication inspires both staff and stakeholders alike. On behalf of the Permanent Secretary, the entire staff of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and its satellite institutions, we are honoured to associate with you and celebrate you on this joyful occasion. Honourable Bakary Badjie , we wish you a very happy birthday. May the Almighty Allah continue to bless you with good health, wisdom, and renewed strength as you lead us forward into 2026 in this important national crusade. Happy Birthday HM more life, more blessings, and continued success.

The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie, on Wednesday officially opened the First National Athletes’ Forum at Paradise Suites Hotel, describing it as a landmark step towards athlete-centred sports governance in The Gambia. Organised by the Athletes’ Commission of the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC), the two-day forum brought together athlete representatives from all 29 National Sports Associations and Federations affiliated with the GNOC. In his keynote address, the Minister praised the GNOC for convening the timely forum and stressed that athletes are key stakeholders, whose welfare, voices, and experiences must shape sports policy, planning, and governance. He highlighted the National Sports Policy as a guiding framework aimed at strengthening governance, improving infrastructure, promoting grassroots and school sports, supporting elite performance, and safeguarding athlete welfare. Hon. Badjie reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to sports development under the leadership of H.E. President Adama Barrow, while also acknowledging ongoing challenges such as athlete welfare, education, career transition, and life after competition. He encouraged open and constructive dialogue during the forum, calling for unity, discipline, and integrity within sporting institutions to ensure sustainable progress. The forum will provide training, facilitate discussions on key athlete-related issues, promote networking and idea-sharing, and generate feedback to inform future policies and programmes of the GNOC, Government, and partners. Paradise Suites Hotel Two-Day National Athletes’ Forum

Hon. Bakary Y. Badjie Boosts Community Sports with 6.5 Million Dalasis In a major move to support grassroots sports, the Honourable Minister of Youth & Sports , Bakary Y. Badjie, today oversaw the distribution of 6.5 million dalasis to community sports committees across the country. This initiative aims to strengthen local sports, improve infrastructure, and create opportunities for young people. The signing ceremony was held at the The President’s International Award,the Gambia hall , Minister Badjie encouraged beneficiaries to use the funds wisely, stressing accountability and the need to follow through on their community projects. “This initiative is not just about giving funds; it’s about communities taking ownership, executing their plans, and making lasting improvements,” he said. The funds were distributed across Kanifing Municipality, Brikama, West Coast, North Bank, Lower River, and Upper River regions, with amounts ranging from 200,000 to 1 million dalasis. Key beneficiaries include: Kanifing Municipality: Serekunda East D1,000,000 and Serekunda West D500,000 In the West Coast region Brikama sports committee got D1,000,000; Sinchu Sorie D300,000 Wellingara D300,000, Allahtentu D300,000, Kubuneh D200,000; Kitty D300,000, Busura D300,000 and Gunjur D300,000 In the North Bank: Kerewan D300,000. Niumi Lamin, D500,000 , CorpsAfrica D500,000 Upper River: Badari D200,000 and Demba Kunda KassehD300,000 and D200,000.00 in jenoi in the Lower River region. Minister Badjie noted that while some communities received smaller amounts, allocations were based on local contributions and existing infrastructure. “This is the first time all these communities are being brought together under one coordinated initiative. In the past, support was given individually quietly, without broader coordination. Now, we are uniting communities, ensuring transparency, and maximizing impact,” he said. To ensure proper execution, larger amounts will be released in phases with 50% given initially and the remainder upon project progress. Smaller allocations, such as 200,000 dalasis, will be transferred in full. “This approach ensures every dalasi counts, projects are completed as planned, and young people across the country benefit from improved sports facilities,” the Minister added. This milestone highlights the government’s continued commitment to grassroots sports, youth development, and community empowerment in The Gambia.

Today, we officially kicked off a two-day capacity building training for Ministerial Focal Persons on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), bringing together 40 participants from various government ministries. The training aims to strengthen institutional coordination and enhance the effective implementation of The Gambia’s Youth, Peace and Security agenda across government structures. The opening ceremony was chaired by the Executive Director of the National Youth Council, Mr. Alagie Jarju, who welcomed participants and underscored the critical role of ministries in translating the YPS framework into tangible actions that positively impact young people nationwide. The event was graced by the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms. Mandisa Mashologu, who delivered the keynote statement. In her address, she reaffirmed UNDP’s strong commitment to supporting The Gambia’s peacebuilding and youth empowerment efforts. She emphasized that young people are not only beneficiaries but also key actors in sustaining peace, preventing conflict, and strengthening social cohesion. Ms. Mandisa Mashologu highlighted the importance of equipping ministerial focal persons with the knowledge and skills to mainstream Youth, Peace and Security into sectoral policies, planning, and implementation. She further noted that investing in youth participation and inclusive governance is essential for long-term peace and national development. Delivering the opening remarks on behalf of the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Abass Bah stressed the Government’s continued dedication to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda. He highlighted that The Gambia has made significant strides, including the establishment of a Technical Working Group that coordinated the development of the country’s first-ever National Action Plan on Youth, Peace and Security (NAP-YPS). He also acknowledged the series of capacity-building initiatives for the Technical Working Group and the nationwide popularization of the NAP-YPS, noting that this training is a crucial step toward deepening ownership and coordination at the ministerial level. He called on participants to actively engage and champion YPS principles within their respective institutions. The training seeks to: ✔️ Strengthen understanding of the Youth, Peace and Security framework ✔️ Enhance coordination among ministries on YPS implementation ✔️ Support the mainstreaming of YPS into national and sectoral policies ✔️ Build the capacity of focal persons to effectively contribute to peacebuilding and youth inclusion This important initiative is being implemented with support from the Infrastructure for Peace Project, funded by the Peacebuilding Fund through UNDP. Together, we continue to invest in young people as agents of peace, stability, and sustainable development in The Gambia.