Following the expulsion of the Gambia from AGOA and other U.S. Trade benefits, The Government of the Republic of The Gambia says it congratulates the Government of The United States of America for the removal of The Gambia from the list of eligible sub-Saharan African countries under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
According to a press release from the Office of the President, the Jammeh Administration says the Gambia “has never benefited” from AGOA in the first place, “since a US Presidential Proclamation designated the country as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country on March, 28 2003.”
“Furthermore, in light of remarks in interviews and statements in the local media made by the Charge d’Affaire of the US embassy in Banjul, it has now become unequivocally clear that the Government of the United States has no good intentions for the people of The Gambia,” the Gambia Government stated.
The release concluded by saying, “consequently and bound by an unshakeable faith in the Almighty Allah alone, it should be clear that the dignified people of The Gambia will not succumb to outside pressures of any kind nor from any source, for, the well-being of her people remains paramount for the Government of The Gambia.”
On December 23, the United States President, Barack Obama issued a proclamation that excluded the Gambia and South Sudan from AGOA and other U.S. Trade Acts. Guinea Bissau is the newest nation added to the list of beneficiaries.
Most political analyst say that Jammeh is being childish once again not being concerned about Gambian businesses that benefited from AGOA but instead showing sarcasm saying it “congratulates” the Obama Administration. Observers agree this goes on to prove that Jammeh do not care about Gambians and the well-being of the people of the nation.
