Army Chief Lieutenant General Ousman Gomez stated that inadequate accommodation is the most significant challenge confronting the force. This declaration followed visits to various barracks, where accommodation consistently emerged as a primary concern. Indeed, Lieutenant General Ousman Gomez revealed that lack of accommodation is the single biggest problem facing the force, impacting soldier welfare and operational readiness. General Gomez affirmed, "We are working on that with the Ministry of Defence under the directive of President Adama Barrow, to ensure that we have standard accommodation for our troops." This commitment shows a concerted effort to address the long-standing issues within military housing.
Tour Reveals Widespread Issues
Lieutenant General Ousman Gomez recently concluded his nationwide tour of military installations. The extensive tour encompassed various barracks and facilities located across the country, providing the Army Chief with an opportunity to observe the living conditions of soldiers firsthand. Throughout these visits, a consistent pattern of substandard housing and infrastructure issues impacting the troops was revealed. All the barracks visited noted challenges, but the general problem raised consistently across all locations was the critical issue of accommodation. This full assessment of these installations showed the urgent need for intervention. Gomez's visits aimed specifically to gather detailed information regarding the extent of the accommodation crisis, which he previously identified as the most significant challenge facing the armed forces. The findings from this extensive tour are expected to inform the next steps in addressing the housing concerns for military personnel, aligning with the directive from President Adama Barrow to improve soldier welfare and ensure suitable living standards for all service members.
Call for Budgetary Support
Lieutenant General Ousman Gomez addressed journalists on Thursday evening at Defence Headquarters in Banjul, where he outlined the ongoing efforts to improve military housing. The Army Chief reiterated the commitment to soldier welfare, emphasizing the necessity of collaboration with government bodies to achieve these improvements. "We are working on that with the Ministry of Defence under the directive of President Adama Barrow, to ensure that we have standard accommodation for our troops," Gomez stated, noting the high-level backing for this initiative. His remarks followed a full nationwide tour of military installations, which he concluded recently. During the tour, Gomez observed firsthand the living conditions of soldiers and identified inadequate accommodation as the most significant challenge confronting the force. He further stressed that the lack of proper housing is the single biggest problem facing the entire military force. The Ministry of Defence, under presidential directive, is now tasked with addressing these issues and securing the necessary budgetary support to implement the required upgrades and new constructions.
Troop Expectations and Future
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Momodou Bah, stated that the ministry has taken note of all challenges identified during the Army Chief's tour to guide future policy decisions. Bah's comments indicate the government's acknowledgment of the issues raised concerning soldier welfare and the commitment to finding sustainable solutions. Concurrently, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) charged his troops to uphold professionalism in their duties. The CDS emphasized the importance of respecting human rights and fostering strong collaboration with sister security services. Troops were instructed to maintain positive working relationships with the civilian population, reinforcing their role within the broader community as protectors and partners. The CDS charged his troops to remain professional, respect human rights, and work effectively with sister security services and the civilian population, thereby upholding the core values of the armed forces. These directives aim to ensure that while their welfare needs are being addressed, the troops continue to serve with discipline and integrity.