The Gambian government is currently seeking official confirmation regarding tragic reports of approximately 190 migrant deaths, predominantly Gambians, which have been circulating primarily on social media. Minister for Trade, Industry, Employment and Regional Integration, Mod K. Ceesay, addressed the issue during a year-end press conference, extending conditional condolences to the affected families, emphasizing the need for factual verification by government institutions.

During the same conference, the state of unemployment in The Gambia was a key topic. Minister Ceesay cited data from the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS), indicating the country's unemployment rate stands at 4.5 percent. He also mentioned that a mid-term assessment is underway to provide empirical data concerning President Adama Barrow's ambitious commitment to create 150,000 jobs by the year 2026.

However, the direct link between unemployment and migration prompted a sharp counter-argument from the Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay. Dr. Ceesay firmly dismissed unemployment as the primary catalyst for irregular migration, commonly referred to as the 'backway' journey. He contended that many young Gambians choose to embark on such perilous journeys despite possessing skills or being gainfully employed, asserting that mere job provision does not guarantee the retention of youth within the country. "Some people abandon their skills and employment to undertake irregular migration. Jobs alone do not necessarily keep people at home," he stated.

The Information Minister further maintained that job opportunities do exist in the country, although he conceded that comprehensive empirical data to substantiate this claim is still being compiled by GBoS. He also clarified the government's much-publicized 150,000 jobs policy, explaining that it does not imply direct state employment for this number of people. Instead, the policy aims to foster an enabling environment that encourages both public and private sector investments, thereby generating a wide array of employment opportunities.

This candid exchange among ministers brought to the forefront persistent questions regarding the credibility of official data, the multifaceted drivers behind youth migration, and governmental accountability. The government continues its efforts to defend its employment narrative amidst ongoing public concerns surrounding irregular migration and the livelihoods of its young population.