By Fatoumatta Sillah
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has opened a five-day workshop to prepare the country’s 2026 Annual Borrowing Plan, amid growing concerns over public debt sustainability.
The exercise, organised by the Directorate of Loans and Debt Management, is taking place at the NaNA Conference Hall and brings together government officials involved in public finance, debt management and fiscal planning.
Officials said the Annual Borrowing Plan is designed to guide government borrowing operations and ensure closer coordination between state institutions responsible for managing public debt.
Speaking at the opening, Jawara Mendy said the process was required under the Public Finance Act and forms part of efforts to implement the country’s Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy.
He warned that prudent borrowing had become increasingly important following a recent Debt Sustainability Analysis which classified The Gambia as being at a high risk of debt distress.
Officials at the workshop said the borrowing plan would also help strengthen domestic debt market development while providing clearer direction for government debt issuance in 2026.
They added that without a structured borrowing framework, government financing operations could face coordination challenges and uncertainty in managing debt obligations.
Participants were urged to contribute actively during the discussions as authorities seek to improve public debt management and promote sustainable financing practices.
The workshop runs from 18 to 22 May 2026. The workshop, held at the NaNA Conference Hall, brings together officials and stakeholders involved in public finance and debt management to strengthen coordination and planning around government borrowing activities.
According to officials, the Annual Borrowing Plan (ABP) is one of the Directorate’s key yearly exercises designed to support the implementation of the country’s MediumTerm Debt Management Strategy while promoting domestic debt market development and long-term fiscal sustainability.
Speaking on behalf of the Director, Jawara Mendy said the preparation of the borrowing plan is a legal requirement under the Public Finance Act and remains essential in operationalising the government’s debt management framework.
He noted that the recently conducted Debt Sustainability Analysis classified The Gambia as being at a high risk of debt distress, underscoring the need for prudent and wellcoordinated borrowing decisions.
Officials at the opening ceremony stressed that without a structured Annual Borrowing Plan, government borrowing operations would lack proper coordination, direction, and effective market engagement regarding debt issuance.
The Directorate also highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, describing the workshop as a mandatory exercise intended to improve data sharing and planning between sister directorates involved in fiscal management.
Participants were urged to actively contribute throughout the five-day discussions as authorities continue efforts to strengthen public debt management systems and promote sustainable financing practices in the country.
