Claim: The Government has disbursed over D90 million to women from the women empowerment funds
Verdict: Misleading. The claim by Dr Ismaila Ceesay, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, that the Gambia government has disbursed over D90 million to different women groups from the women empowerment fund is misleading. There is no evidence to support this claim, and available information indicates a figure less than D90 million.
Full Text
On Monday, 1st December, 2025, appearing on the state broadcaster TV, Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) on the Good Morning Gambia Show, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services in The Gambia, claimed that “they are supporting women entrepreneurs through the women empowerment fund.” Timestamp, 55:48 – 56:04 mins.
Dr. Ceesay made these remarks in response to a question about the government’s stance on empowering, promoting, and protecting women.
“We are supporting women entrepreneurs through the Women’s Empowerment Fund,” he stated.
Dr Ceesay added, “We have disbursed over ninety million (90 million) dalasi to different women who are either new entrepreneurs or existing entrepreneurs, either starting a business or expanding their business. All this is done to support women.” Dr. Ceesay claimed.
Verification
As Dr Ceesay’s claim of the government disbursing over D90 million to different women’s groups to expand their businesses has the potential to mislead the public.
Info-Check decided to investigate to find out the facts surrounding the claim. We tried contacting the Minister, requesting documents to verify the claim, but to no avail.
Our findings revealed that the Women’s Enterprise Fund (WEF) is one of the initiatives designed by the government of the Gambia and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, established by an Act of Parliament in 2020 to respond to the challenges faced by women to access finance and to improve the economic empowerment of women in the Gambia.
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, while responding to questions from NAMs on Wednesday, 17 July 2024, disclosed that over D66,320,000.00 has been disbursed to women groups across the country, from the Women Enterprise Fund.
She stated that D46,105,751.48 was recovered, accounting for 69.5 percent of the total amount disbursed.
During the President’s visit to Sanunding Village, Tumana District, Upper River Region, an announcement was made that 20 women’s groups, representing more than Two Thousand, Four Hundred and Eleven, received a cheque of D1.950m, which was presented by Minister Fatou Kinteh. Watch the presentation here from 59:41 to 1:00:08.
On the West Coast, the President presented Eight Million Dalasi (D8 Million) cheque to a 20-woman group as part of the Women Enterprise Fund.
Our research shows that the government has rendered support to women’s groups in the country through the Women’s Enterprise Fund (WEF) to support and equip them with the right skills to thrive as entrepreneurs.
However, the amount claimed by the Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services in The Gambia is misleading and does not reflect the actual amounts on record disbursed to support women’s groups.
Conclusion
Based on publicly available information that is claimed by Dr Ismaila Ceesay, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, that the government has disbursed over D90 million is misleading, as there is no evidence to support this.
By: Momodou Janneh