Mawdo,
I agree with u and lie that a full report will help digest her claims. At the same time, most of the questions are asking are answered in the text...
For crisis, she is referring to the global financial crisis. I believe she is comparing Gambias performance against average growth in Africa, which was in a just released global outlook by the fund.
I don't think she measured Gdp herself. Her numbers must be from gbos, which is the official entity responsible for compiling national statistics.
As to to who is better off, that is relative. However, holding all other factors constant, one can safely argue that the livelihood of Gambians did indeed improve under Babilli mansa. One case in point in the improvement of our livelihood is the bridge that connects the other bank to your al ma Mata. Again, the caveat here is "holding all other factors constant". I concur with both u and laye that a full report would help
On Tuesday, July 17, 2012, Demba Baldeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Laye,
>
> I couldn't agree more with inconsistencies and lack of substance and facts on the summary of this report or at least how it is reported in this article... Need to lay hands on the actual report for better assessment..
>
> I am however baffled with the some of the statements Ms Songwe is quoted on. First she stated "“This is consistent with performance of the African continent post-crisis where, for first the time after a crisis, Africa was able to rebound quickly and today is the fastest growing continent,”
>
> Now when was Gambia in crisis? what does she meant by crisis, conflict, war, farmine or what? What bench marks have she used to measure Gambia's economic progress? Against US, Senegal or which African country?
>
> "Poverty in The Gambia has dropped significantly because of the good growth in the last few years". My question to honorable Ms... Which class of Gambians have poverty dropped? The ruling class? The business class? or the Gambian Diaspora class?
>
> "However, we know that poverty in the rural areas is over 60%, which remains high". Over 60%? you kidding me right? What is your measure against what group? This figure is probably in the 90% to be close as hardly anybody or family can affort a bag of rice or sugar without help from their sons and daughters in the Diaspora. What is the source of income of rural population? Farming is almost nonexistence for the past several years. What is their source of income that improves their standard of living?
>
> Besides, why didn't she give us the actual figures? What is the unemployment in the Gambia? What is the inflation rate? What measures have she used in measuring GDP?
>
> These mediocre IMF, World Bank or what agency officials who are only out to make themselves look good are simply misrepresenting the realities of the African people on the group. Their standard of measure does not comform to the reality of the everyday African... Year after year we get these positive reports but at the same time year after year the people are claiming more poverty and the governments go around begging for food. Which is which? You are either growing or not and stop fooling the people...
>
> Thanks for sharing Cherno but you know better... Will look for the actual report but am sure it is not any better than what has been summarized.
>
> Demba
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 17, 2012 at 4:54 AM, C. Omar Kebbeh <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>> Gambia economy shows strong growth performance
>>
>> Africa » Gambia
>> Tuesday, July 17, 2012
>>
>> The World Bank country director for The Gambia, Senegal, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Mauritania has confirmed that the Gambia economy has shown strong growth performance in recent years and was sufficiently resilient during the global financial crisis of 2008.
>>
>> Vera Songwe was speaking at the opening ceremony of a two-day government Resource Mobilisation and Investment Conference on the country's Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE). She said that the average annual GDP growth rate was about 6% between 2005-2010. “This is consistent with performance of the African continent post-crisis where, for first the time after a crisis, Africa was able to rebound quickly and today is the fastest growing continent,” she stated.
>>
>> She explained that the main reason for this good performance was strong macroeconomic performance and that The Gambia must be congratulated for this. She however noted that the 2011 drought has severely undermined agriculture sector growth and overall growth, while adding that growth is estimated to have dropped to 3% in 2011 and is expected to fall further in 2012.
>>
>> She continued: “This will have an impact on poverty. Poverty in The Gambia has dropped significantly because of the good growth in the last few years. However, we know that poverty in the rural areas is over 60%, which remains high. Therefore, we must continue to focus on the importance of the quality and inclusiveness of growth for poverty reduction.”
>>
>> The WB regional representative hailed the PAGE and stated that the issues are well developed in it, while congratulating the government on the progress made. She said that the PAGE builds on the PRSP and incorporates lessons learned from its implementation.
>>
>> “As an investment framework, it has broken with tradition of previous national strategy frameworks for resource mobilisation, by putting more emphasis on private sector participation. It is not only bilateral and multilateral development partners that are targeted, but also greater private sector involvement,” she further stated.
>>
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