Fatou Kinteh, the Gender Minister, has said that a total of D95.45 Million has been disbursed through the Women’s Enterprise Fund.
She said this on Wednesday, 16th September 2026, at the National Assembly during a Question-and-Answer Session with the lawmakers.
Minister Kinteh was specifically responding to the question raised by the member for Banjul North, Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah.
Hon. Bah asked the Minister to inform this august Assembly of the total outstanding loan balance of the Women’s Enterprise Fund from 2021 to date, and the steps taken to support repayment and sustainability of the Fund.
In her response, the Gender Minister said the fund has made significant progress in expanding affordable finance for women across the country through the revolving loan facility.
She said, “From 2021 to date, total revolving loan disbursed stands at D95.45 Million.”
She reported a total recovery of D71.204 Million, with a standing loan balance of D23.840 Million.
She said that the Ministry has taken measures, such as engaging Central and Commercial banks, with a view to reducing transaction costs to recover the total remaining balance.
In his question to the Defense Minister, Hon. Alhagie S. Darbo, Member for Brikama North, asked the Hon. Minister for Defence to update the Assembly on the status of the land demarcation for the Corporal Lamin Bojang Firing Range at Brikama Jamisa, and Government’s plans for a military hospital on the site.
Defense Minister Baboucarr Joof said that the government recognizes the significance of strategically securing legal ownership and title.
The government, he added, recognizes the importance of defense lands in support of long-term capability, operational effectiveness, and the welfare of the Gambia Armed Forces.
“Accordingly, the request has been submitted to the Ministry of Lands to facilitate the necessary demarcation exercise,” he said.
The demarcation and regularization of the site in Brikama Jamisa, he said, is therefore being pursued in consultation with the relevant authorities, with the objective of establishing clear boundaries, securing the site, and ensuring its appropriate protection for its intended national purposes.
The proposed construction of a military hospital represents an important investment in the health, welfare, operational readiness, and resilience of the Armed Forces.
A dedicated military care capability, he said, will contribute to the wellbeing of personnel and their families, whilst strengthening GAF’s ability to sustain operational effectiveness.
He said that the Government’s immediate priority is to secure and regularize the site, while undertaking the necessary technical planning, statutory approval, and resource mobilization, including the exploration of appropriate partnerships and external support.
“These measures will preserve the site for its intended healthcare purpose, and provide a sound foundation for advancing the project in a responsible, sustainable, and coordinated manner, consistent with government’s broader objective of building a more capable, professional, and resilient Gambia Armed Forces,” he said.
Environment
Hon. Assan Touray, member for Bakau, on behalf of Hon. Kemo Gassama for Lower Baddibu, also asked the Environment Minister to inform the Assembly whether she is aware of environmental damage caused by seasonal herdsmen and hunters entering The Gambia, and what measures the Ministry has in place to address the menace.
Environment Minister Rohey John Manjang replied that transhumance seasonal livestock movement is a longstanding livelihood practice in the subregion.
She said, “Government’s objective is therefore not to prevent legitimate transhumance but to ensure that it is properly regulated, and does not result in deforestation, uncontrolled bush burning and degradation, conflicts with farmers, or other damages to our natural resources, and in this case the environment.”
