The Gambia Hosts Africa’s PPP Summit: Financing Smarter, Not Borrowing More

Banjul, The Gambia — The Gambia reinforced its growing profile as an investment and financing hub in West Africa by hosting the 7th edition of the Financial Afrik Awards (FAA) from 22 to 23 January 2026 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre. The two-day summit and awards ceremony, officially opened by President Adama Barrow, brought together over 400 delegates from 22 nationalities, including senior government officials, financial leaders, development partners, investors, and private sector executives from across Africa and the Arab world. Held under the theme “Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) as an Alternative to Public Debt,” the event highlighted innovative and sustainable financing solutions to help African countries bridge infrastructure gaps without overreliance on sovereign borrowing. Barrow: “No Infrastructure, No Development”
In his opening address, President Barrow praised the organisers for selecting The Gambia as host and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to infrastructure-led growth through private sector partnerships. “No infrastructure, no development,” he declared, positioning The Gambia as a PPP-driven investment destination. He also stressed the importance of strengthening Africa–Arab world cooperation, noting that platforms like the Financial Afrik Awards are critical for turning policy dialogue into actionable projects. Youth, Ownership, and African Capital Social entrepreneur and global youth advocate Thione Niang delivered a strong call for economic ownership, urging African leaders to empower young people and local entrepreneurs. “We cannot live in a continent where everybody else controls the economy but us,” Niang said, advocating for the rise of African-owned champions across sectors. Spotlight on the Trans-Gambia Corridor and SEZs A highlight of the summit was the session on the Trans-Gambia Corridor Special Economic Zone (TG-SEZ), described by panellists as a regional gateway capable of unlocking trade, logistics, and investment across West Africa.
Dr Mohamed H’Midouche, CEO of Inter Africa Capital Group, emphasised that PPPs are now essential for Africa’s infrastructure financing, while architect Pierre Goudiaby Atépa stressed the importance of sustainable and inclusive urban planning. Hamey Jawara, Senior Manager for Investment Promotion at GIEPA, reassured investors of strong legal protection and regulatory certainty in The Gambia. Sukuk Gains Traction as Ethical Financing Tool Another session focused on Sukuk, an Islamic finance instrument increasingly seen as an alternative to conventional debt. Sharif Abbas, an Islamic finance expert, explained that Sukuk are asset-backed investment certificates, making them suitable for financing revenue-generating infrastructure without adding fiscal pressure. The Gambia Bankers Association confirmed growing interest in Sukuk as part of the country’s evolving financial landscape. Day Two: PPPs and Arab–Africa Cooperation The second day featured a high-level PPP panel examining practical models for infrastructure delivery with contributions from regional development banks and private investors. Speakers emphasised strong legal frameworks, project bankability, and social impact. The Arab World–Africa Round Table explored opportunities for deeper trade and investment cooperation, calling for harmonised standards, transparent regulatory systems, and stronger private sector ecosystems. Celebrating Africa’s Financial Leaders The summit concluded with a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony, where eleven individuals and institutions were honoured for leadership and impact, including: Sheku Fantamadi Bangura, Sierra Leone – Finance Minister of the Year Serge Ekue, President of BOAD – Special Jury Prize for Financial Leadership Zul-Kifl Salami – Lifetime Achievement Award Ali Alshimmari, CEO of Global South Utilities – Arab–African Cooperation Prize Mohamed H’Midouche – Economist of the Year Gagan Gupta, CEO of ARISE IIP – CEO of the Year Alagie Sanyang, CEO of Cornerstone Group – Medal of Honour Financing Africa Better, Not Borrowing More In her closing reflections, Fatima Soleman Abdi Idd, CEO of Mr Roof Rwanda, stressed that Africa’s challenge is not poverty but weak infrastructure and financial systems. “Africa is not poor. The challenge lies in weak infrastructure and financial systems,” she said, urging that PPPs, Sukuk, and Special Economic Zones be structured to retain value locally.

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