Living in The Gambia
Summary
I enjoy traveling colse to West Africa, especially colse to culturally rich regions blending nature with contemporary infrastructural developments. Both my air and road travels colse to this Ecowas subregion in the last 15 years has been both instructive and enriching for me. I have been culturally immersed with diversity in languages, religion, culture, food, architecture, climate, economic life, flora and fauna.
Living in The Gambia
The knowledge acquired, cannot be quantified in monetary terms, and i will advise this educational tours to our youths to enable them appreciate and tolerate other cultures, thus reducing conflicts and disputes among neighboring countries. Somewhere else, i have written and held any seminars on working and living in Ghana about 11 years ago.
Today, the success story of Ghana is clear to all and this country Ghana, has emerged as one of the best economies in the subregion. Again, i am introducing another emerging great economy to you, The Gambia.
Before the whole world flood here, and you'll be left out, why not take my advise seriously and invest, work, live or holiday in this beautiful country to sense what I'm talking about? I love this peaceful country blessed with hospitable people. Gambians welcome you with natural engaging smiles. The Gambia is bounded round by an historical river, rich in natural resources of sea foods, animals and healing powers. Welcome to The Gambia, the smiling coast of West Africa.
From the natural charm of Makasutu Village, historical sites of Kunta Kinteh village, James Island, Kachikally Crocodile pool, Kanilai Farm, and so many other sites to the beaches and people, you will hardly want to leave. Wee wonder, there are so many repeat tourists advent to The Gambia for the past 10-15 years that I've met. They come from all over Europe, Americas, Asia and Africa. At the beach, the charm of the Sea, the sand and sun will remind you of mom Africa.
How about the investment climate, very convenient and investor friendly.With a garage economy with a single digit inflation rate and currency change of Us.0= Gmd26 (As at 9th April, 2010). The Gambia is a multicultural country with a lot of immigrants from West Africa, Europe, America, Middle East and Asia permanently living as investors, working with any Ngos, some retired investors while many others are engaged in importation businesses and owned any shopping malls.The Gambia is home to investors, volunteers, professionals pursuing their career, and holiday makers who has made this peaceful country their destination. Welcome to The Gambia, where there is no discrimination based on religion, creed, color, race, gender, public status, disability and with zero tolerance to corruption. Read on! Alsamadeh!
Market
The major markets are in Banjul, Serrekunda and Brikama. Here, you can shop for staple foods like fish, meat, vegetables, clothings, jeweleries and fashion accessories. The locals welcome people with natural smiles after exchanging the religious greetings: "Asalamalekun", meaning, peace be unto you. Traditionally, Gambian women go to shop daily to buy what to cook.They can be seen with the plastic baskets with holders thronging to the busy markets to shop for fresh fish, meat, vegetables and take time to greet each other asking after each others' families, relations and get updated about current public events and other women gossips. Some of the elites, however, prefer to shop in shopping malls colse to Kairaba Avenue, and buy foods in large quantities to store at home.
Mini-markets, or what some call supermarkets are all over the Greater Banjul area contentious with the primary markets. There are also the neighborhood shops, called "Fulah Shops", owned mostly by Mauritanian citizens and in some cases by Guineans. This is the place to get the locally made bread called, "Tapalapa". This is ordinarily a long banana shaped clay oven baked bread that is ordinarily portable on bicycles by the suppliers early in the morning, mid-day and sunset time. I prefer buying this, when fresh, it's soft and more engaging than the stale hardened and uninviting ones. A full one goes for D5 and the half is D2.50. The bread is ordinarily sold with a nice spread of butter, mayonnaises, egg, potato and spiced with jumbo or Maggi sauce depending on the buyer's preferences.
There is also "Senfu", which has a crumb nature and much cheaper, being sold for D3 for a full roll. However, i noticed the "Senfu" is not as filling as the "Tapalapa" that can keep me going for the whole day, like a bowl of "Fufu", which is the energiser for most Nigerians, Ghanaians and Sierra- Leoneans in The Gambia. The local "Fufu" unlike the ones found in Ghana and Nigeria are made from "Saddam Rice", as it is called locally, by grinding it into powder and cooked into a solid paste in a pot. The most favorite lunch meal, among Gambians, is the jollof rice, locally referred to as " Benechin". Different types of stew are prepared to eat the rice meal like"Plasas", "Super ganja", "Damoda",etc. I enjoy the Gambia morning meal meal of "Thura Girthe", which is very rich in protein. This is a compound of well pounded rice cooked with milled groundnut and eaten with a spread of yogurt "Sour Milk".
Gambians eat together. Small groups of in the middle of 5-8 people are ordinarily seen eating from the same bowl, and yet, when a visitor appears, he or she is beakoned to still join them and share out of it. This is the true love, i'm yet to see anywhere. If you think there is no free meal anywhere, you're wrong; come to The Gambia! This elaborate the suspect for very low or non-existent crime rate. At least, a lunch meal is guaranteed for whatever living in The Gambia. Food is shared, no one goes home hungry. The women also waste a lot of food by always preparing a lot expecting visitors to join them when serving their meals. They box the rice meals in large wide bowls with a cover and wrap it in a primary manner with cloth, that will acquire the food from spilling and carry to their husbands at their respective working places for them to eat with colleagues. Sometimes, they go tour long distances, to deliver the foods, like a house living in Lamin and the husband working in Serrekunda.
Work Hours
The legal working hours is 8am- 4pm from Monday to Thursday. Friday is half day. Most of Gambians are Muslims, and they go for the Friday extra prayers in the afternoon. Although, the "African time" plan is still prevalent among the people, this is coarse with the government workers, the secret sector is better. Most serious company appointments start from 9am, even though, they are scheduled for 8am.
The major suspect sometimes for arriving at work late, can be as a corollary of unavailability of industrial vehicles to transport workers to their respective places of work. Even, at places of work, Gambians do not forget to take their Chinese herbal tea called " Atire".
Game Of Football
A first time visitor, to The Gambia will think the game of football has it's origin from here, because of the love and passion attached to this game. There are quite a amount of playgrounds that are never kept idle because of the teeming youths that religiously train and play daily matches, especially in the evenings after work or school. Similarly, on weekends, first thing in the morning, you will notice everyone exercising or playing the game they love most; football.
The discussions of most of these youths that constitute half of the country's people is centered on the European matches. Teams like Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Ac Milan and other big teams have passionate fans in The Gambia.
There are many Football Viewing centers that are making a fortune showing the live matches to most Gambian. Although, some of these youths might not know the capital of Nigeria, they often tell me it's Lagos, but they beyond doubt know all the European Club Managers, first line ups and transfers of these key players, not to talk about the newest scores in the premiership or championship.
The Gambia's national team, called the "Scorpion" is beloved and you dare not say whatever bad against this team in order not to incur the wrath of my football lovers. A loss in game when "Scorpions" play, will turn the whole country into a grave yard, "a mourning period". But with a win; the Brazilian samba dancers will envy the dance steps of both the young boys and girls singing: "ho, ho ho ho, ha,ha,ha,ha..haleyomii". Therefore, to make friends with Gambians is so easy, just pick up a football topic!
Beaches
The climatic conditions of The Gambia is slightly Different from other Ecowas countries. There is only one cycle of rainfall which starts colse to June and ends colse to October. It is ordinarily hot while the raining periods, unlike other countries that sense cold periods.
The Hamattan duration starts from November to February. However, the weather experiences erratic changes sometimes. The beaches are clean and furnish succor to visiting tourists that want to sense the charm of the sun, the sea and the sand of The Gambia.
There are any beaches to visit. From Banjul beach to Palma Rima, Senegambia and up to Sanyang. There are so many secret beaches along this line. Most white tourists called "Toubabs" are ordinarily welcome at these beaches that have engaging primary bars with natural juice, canned drinks, barbecue and extra packages for visitors.
The menace of "bumsters" have been curtailed and there are traveler police patrolling most of the busy beaches to deter the "unsolicited friends". The beaches are besieged by practically all Gambians while festive periods or while major musical concerts or shows.
Festive Periods
A visitor arriving The Gambia colse to Easter or Christmas will think all Gambians are Christians, with the celebration and partying. Similarly, colse to the Muslim festivals of "Koriteh or Tobaski" will give one the impression that there is no single Christian in town.
This is the charm and diversity of the Gambian hospitality and tolerance of other religions in The Gambia. The people enjoy good music. The local artists are adored, some of whom are Jalibah Kuyateh, Titi Kololi, Freakie Joe, Asan Njie, Olugander and Sambou to mention a few.
The women, both young and old, enjoy dancing. The very corporeal dances of jumping and kicking the air is coarse and i often wonder where the women get the extra power and drive from. Some young men that are not used to these dances, dare not challenge these women in a dancing competition, if they do not want to be hospitalized.
The entertainment business is therefore very vibrant. Most people relax by watching Nigerian, Senegalese and Ghanaian home videos. There are any video rental shops to pick the newest Nigerian films from. Most of the banks and hotels show foreign channels like Dstv, Cnn, AlJazeera, Eurosport etc.
Paid Work In The Gambia
Except for Ecowas nationals, that are allowed to work freely in some key government sectors like study and Judiciary, other nationals are only allowed to work as expatriate and have to go straight through a scrutiny and get approval from the immigration department, before they can be permitted to work with the government.
However, investors are allowed to bring in their work force, provided they abide by the immigration laws of obtaining a work/residential permit. Openings exist all year round for excellent teachers in Senior secondary schools all over the country.
Most of the vacancies are ordinarily filled by Nigerians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Sierra-Leoneans, Liberians and a handful of other Ecowas nationals. Openings also exist for lecturers in University of The Gambia, any pro training institutes and other tertiary institutes like supervision development establish (Mdi), Gambia College and Gambia Technical Training establish (G.T.T.I).
Although, the secret institutes remuneration is higher than the government pay scale. Most of the secondary schools in the provinces are in need of teachers, most teachers rather prefer to change to the urban cities leaving the rural villages without excellent teaching force.
Government subsidized schools remuneration box for non-Gambian teachers are in the middle of D3,500-D4,000 per shift (Morning or afternoon) depending on the entry level sense and qualification. The secret schools pay in the middle of D4,500-D10,000, depending on the school and sense of the teacher.
Most schools prefer teachers that have gathered "Gambian experience", meaning, they must have taught in The Gambia for some years to understand the system. Combining both shifts means more income. Most government schools prefer to pay full salary for the morning shift and half salary for the afternoon shift. There are other any opportunities of earnings earning, by organizing study classes for the students after close of school by some teachers. Most teachers often turn school to those paying more, and every term witnesses a mass drift of teachers around.
The coveted schools are: Marina International, Sbec, Zenith, Sos, Scanaid and West African International. Linguistics and sciences are the beloved subjects often in high demand. English language, English Literature, Mathematics, further Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Agric Science, Applied Electricity etc, are "hot cake" subjects for most schools.
Ecowas excellent teachers (M.Sc, B.Sc & Hnd holders in the subjects listed above) are ordinarily being employed in secondary schools in The Gambia.
Other professionals needed to work in the secret sectors are:
1. Lawyers with Ll.b degree that have successfully completed Law school and called to Bar to work as
Magistrates/Judges with the Ministry of Justice.
2. pro graphic & Website Designers.
3. pro Advertisers.
4. Desktop & Laptop mend Technicians.
5. Automobile Technicians.
6. Theater Arts & Dramatic artists.
7. Film Directors & Producers.
8. pro Actors & Actresses.
9. Radio & T.V Programme Presenters.
10. Fish Breeding & Farming
11. Aquarium making & Gold Fish Rearing.
12. Leadership development Trainers.
13. Trainers in unique skills & vocations.
14. Cottage business set-up trainers ( Body creams, soaps, cartons, shoe polish etc.)
The financial business has witnessed a marvelous growth with addition of more banks joining the league recently, bringing the total amount of banks to fourteen in The Gambia. Most of these Nigerian banks are chance up branches and will need more staff.
Although, it is far economy to hire the locals than expatriate by the banks, because of the extra tax paid for not hiring Gambians. The same rule applies to the Hotel and Tourism industry. The Non Governmental Organizations, Ngos are allowed to bring in their personnel.
Volunteers are also welcome in The Gambia. Volunteers can have a cultural immersion and gain international sense in this peaceful country. For holiday makers, i will advise visiting this small but unique country for those in hunt of a Peaceful, Affordable and Memorable African retreat (Pamar!)
Investment Opportunities
1. Ecowas Citizens
The government welcome investment in all sectors, extra attentiveness is, however, given to Agriculture because of the point of food security to any nation. Other sectors like Real Estate & Properties, Mining Industry, Hotel & Tourism, Health, Education, Manufacturing and Agro- allied Sectors are key areas to go into and get government incentive, in tax relief and total support.
Ecowas citizens enjoy free movement of persons and goods within the 16 countries block, the required capital needed to re-locate to the Gambia to work, live, invest or holiday is far less than what is required to rule down in other Ecowas countries. With the electricity tariffs advent down (thanks to the government initiative), Nawec, the electricity company is doing her best to guarantee garage furnish of electricity and many businesses solely rely on this garage electricity supply.
Incidences of armed robbery attack are very rare. I have not noticed or peruse or hear about armed robbery attacks in the last six years. I only read in one of the newspapers, one or two times, about such attacks in the provinces some few years ago. people move about without fear of molestation or attack. Petty movable phone theft are ordinarily common.
The residential houses are affordable, and rents of one to three months improve payments, are demanded. The people are warm and hospitable. For as Wee as D500 per month, a room can be rented colse to the busy areas like Brikama, Latrikunda, Lamin,Tabokoto, Wellingara and Coastal road areas.
The 2-bed room apartments with all the conveniences goes for in the middle of D1,500-D2,500 per month in these areas depending on the done taste and proximity to the busy highways. Ecowas citizens can enter and rule in the country with opportunities to start small businesses.
For these wise residents in the country, there are any businesses to pick from and do easily in this investment kindly country. whatever advent to The Gambia for the first time, must first of all plan and prepare, knowing what to do and where to stay and having sufficient information about the culture and company climate.
2. Worldwide Investors ( Medium/ Large Scale Businesses)
The exact areas, wise investors, can rush into to invest presently, from our detailed research findings are:
A) Setting up a secret University with residential campus to attract all Ecowas citizens.
B) Eateries like MacDonald's, Chicken George, Mr. Briggs, Sweet Sensation, Tantalizers, Tfc, etc
C) Botanical Garden/ Love garden colse to the traveler areas.
D) construction low Cost Homes to be sold or rented out to people.
E) Ground nut processing factory.
F) Feed Mill for Poultry, Rabbitry and Turkey Production.
G) Cashew Processing premise (Cns Oil, brake oil, glue, rubber,electrical wires etc).
H) Natural Juice canning premise ( Fruits like mangoes, orange, lime etc abound).
I) Fresh Flower yield and export.
J) Fish Canning/ Food containers for export.
There are other 90 businesses we have surveyed to be potential instant money earners for wise investors to take on. kindly invite for a detailed scheme profile on this. The Gambia investment Promotion and Free Zones Agency, (Gipfza) welcome investors with unique offers of tax relief, government sustain and non-bureaucratic processing of indispensable documents to allow for quick set-up and investment in The Gambia.
To have a fair idea of the company climate, i advise that all potential investors read the newest company directory (The Gambia company Directory).
Infrastructural development & company Environment
The Gambia, though small, but has a robust economy with fourteen industrial banks, four Gsm companies, a good amount of airlines plying the subregion and the face world. There are more than five daily newspapers, colse to eight radio stations and many hotels of international standards including the 5-star Sheraton Hotel.
The major roads from the airport to most busy industrial centers like Kairaba, Brufut, West Field, Senegambia, Brikama, Latrikunda and Banjul are all tarred with well lighted street lights. Clean, fresh and treated pipe borne water is ready to most homes 24hrs uninterrupted.
Communication and internet services are quite economy than most other countries. The cost of beginning a company in The Gambia is far economy both in the short term and long term. The real estate company is enjoying a great boom with 30% return yearly on investments, and the Meltdown phenomenon is not beyond doubt noticeable in The Gambia.
The Gambia is a traveler destination and repeated visitors are coarse in this marvelous and peace loving smiling coast of The Gambia. Although, The Gambia is a tax based economy, the government makes astronomical earnings from Tourism and exportation of agricultural commodities like Groundnut, Fishes, Cotton and solid minerals.
It is mandatory for every resident to have a Tin number(Tax Identification Number) before a bank account can be opened. New buildings are advent up daily and it is coarse sight,to see most of the property owners advertising their phone contacts for those curious in renting or leasing these properties from high rise buildings in Senegambia axis, Kairaba, Fajara, West Field, Tallinding, Tabokoto, Abuko, Lamin, Yundum etc.
Gambians in diaspora are rushing home to invest in this high compliance property sector. A visitor that last visited the country a year ago, will notice a excellent inequity in this infrastructural developments. The Gambia is a clean country, especially with the introduction of the monthly cleaning exercises, called "Setsetal", which is a extra cleaning day for everyone on the last Saturday of the month in the middle of the hours of 8-1pm and thereafter there is free movement.
Municipal officials go colse to to ensure the wastes are properly disposed and ensure compliance to the law, that all shops and businesses most be done and no movement of industrial vehicles, until the end of the cleaning exercise.
Health wise, it is safe to live in The Gambia, because the condition delivery law is very productive and well equipped with the best healing personnel in The world. There are varied condition centers, well spread colse to the country with ambulances standing by to quickly evacuate emergencies to Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital, Rvth, Banjul where complex cases are ordinarily taken.
Visitors advent for the first time, therefore, are advised to take the suitable vaccinations recommended. Ecowas citizens must take vaccinations against yellow fever, meningitis, Polio etc and ensure these are stamped on their Yellow Card, this is even taken more seriously, when traveling by road straight through Benin, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Mali and Senegal to The Gambia. Not having a valid Yellow Card could cost you a fortune in fines you'll be asked to Pay!
Medical services is free to Gambians, except the registration card which is D5 only. Ecowas citizens are, however, required to pay for cost of medicine and hospitalization, depending on the treatment. traveler visiting The Gambia are advised to have a tour insurance when visiting
Transportation within the country is affordable. engaging from one location to another is quite easy. There are three categories of industrial road transportation. One, is the industrial Bus, that only allow maximum of three passengers on a row which is convenient, unlike four on a row in any other countries. This type of buses go colse to the major destinations like Banjul to Serrekunda (D6), Banjul to Tabokoto (D10), Banjul to Brikama (D15), Serrekunda to Senegambia (D5) etc.
The second type is the yellow and green painted taxis that take people for D5 a drop or chartered services for most tourists and locals, called "Town Trip". The last category, are the green painted and branded "Tourist Taxis" for tourists from and to the airport, hotel areas, most beaches and historical sites for new visitors. They are more costly than the yellow painted ones.
Except when it is very important, first time visitors are, however, encouraged to avoid going out colse to the rush hours, like 7-8am and 4-6pm, especially when commuters are going to or returning from work. From Tabokoto, Lamin, West field, Serrekunda and Brikama in the morning to Banjul and returning back home in the evening is always very hectic and costly to take a taxi. The bus-stops are ordinarily congested and the traffic chaotic colse to these periods.
There are many well organized tour operators with luxurious air conditioned buses to pick from and to the airport all visitors and traveler that dispose their visits straight through them. They also partner with most hotels on tours to historical sites and colse to the cities.
There area ferry services ready to transport people over the River Gambia. From Barra to Banjul is D25 only. Visitors can come in to the country either by land straight through The Gambian border with Senegal at Hamdallah, or from Guinea and Cassamace, Senegal straight through Basse. By air is straight through the only airport at Yundum. The Banjul International Airport, one of the best in the subregion with the longest run-way and contemporary radial facilities installed.
The airport is not always busy and travelers should always familiarize person to pick them at the airport, especially while the weekends when industrial activities are low. However, traveler taxis are ready at any time for in the middle of D500-D800 depending on the distance, ordinarily in the middle of 15-30km from the airport.
There is a Bureau de turn at the airport to turn money from other currencies like Euro, dollars, pounds and Cfa to Dalaisi. For Visa Card carriers, there is Eco Bank Atm at the airport. Bank Phb and Trust bank also have their Atms at the airport.
On advent in the country, when you hear "Nagadef?", meaning how are you, just answer "Jamarek", meaning i'm fine. After a hand shake, say "Jerejef", meaning thank you.
Jerejef, Jarama, Baraka (meaning thank you in 3 Different local languages).
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