By Yero S. Bah
What’s On Gambia, widely known as the Grand Bantaba, has evolved from a simple social media page into one of the most influential civic and philanthropic forces in The Gambia. With over 600,000 followers at home and across diaspora communities in Europe, the USA, and beyond, its strength lies in its capacity to transform storytelling into real‑world action. It has evolved into a public square, a philanthropic hub, and a watchdog whose influence extends from urban centers to remote villages.
Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Gambian culture, but What’s on Gambia has reimagined how generosity is mobilized, structured, and delivered. Central to this transformation is the platform’s transparent, story-driven model, which links individual donors, especially those from the diaspora, to urgent community needs. A compelling example is the newly completed borehole for women gardeners in Njau Sawalo, Upper Saloum.
Funded by The Gambia Sisters, a non-profit in the diaspora, this intervention now provides clean water to women whose livelihoods depend entirely on their gardens. A follower of What’s on Gambia, Tida Sisawo, praised the effort, thanking the online platform for facilitating “a project that would have been impossible without collective compassion.”
The Gambia Sisters in the Diaspora also funded a borehole in Foni Janack, complete with tap installations throughout the village. One of the platform’s most significant moments occurred when a U.S. based Gambian donated D333,000 for more boreholes across the provinces. Famara Drammeh, a follower, remarked, “U.S.-based Gambians are very generous, and they don’t make noise,” referring to the dignity-centered giving practices that did not ask for praise in return. Another follower, Laibo Manneh, underscored the urgency of interventions on water access.
According to UNICEF’s 2020 report, although “90% of households have access to safe drinking water and 60% to improved sanitation,” the quality of access remains a major concern, as only 31% of households have handwashing facilities, and 73% face Escherichia coli contamination risks. Further development experts remind us that access doesn’t necessarily translate to actual connection to water.
Schools also experience significant Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) disparities, with rural institutions lagging despite 89.5% of primary schools meeting national standards. These gaps create an environment where micro‑philanthropy, led through grassroots channels, becomes not only supportive but essential.
Moreover, socioeconomic pressures reinforce the need for community‑driven intervention. The World Bank Group estimated that national poverty reached 53.4% in 2020, equivalent to about 1.1 million Gambians. Rural poverty stands at 76%, compared with 34% in urban areas. Inflation, averaging 11.6% in 2022 with food inflation at 14.5%, further diminishes purchasing power, especially for households that spend 65% percent of their income on food, according to the Gambia Bureau of Statistics, 2020 survey report.
At the governance level, the 2024 Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) places The Gambia at a score of “around 38” and ranked 96 out of 180 countries, highlighting persistent concerns of public-sector inefficiency.
These governance and service‑delivery shortcomings help explain why citizens increasingly rely on alternative mechanisms like What’s on Gambia. Studies by FSD Africa, TSI Consultancy, and Africa Renewal show that social‑media‑driven crowdfunding is effective because it works “faster and more directly,” enables rapid “viral amplification,” and aggregates “micro‑gifts” into sizable interventions. Verified photos, videos, and narrative stories of the result of the giving strengthen credibility more quickly than traditional institutional reports.
“We will be as transparent and accountable as possible. No kickbacks,” the team assures, beneficiaries, and followers. This openness cultivates donor confidence and ensures that even small contributors feel connected to the outcome of their giving.
What’s On Gambia has leveraged this trust‑based model through every project it has executed. This community confidence is visible in the platform’s fundraising speed. In a recent campaign to repair and drill boreholes and renovate school toilets, over D220,000 was raised in under 48 hours. The platform continuously reminds followers that even small contributions matter: “We encourage every member of the Grand Bantaba to contribute at least D10. Together, our contributions can bring clean water, dignity, and happiness to thousands of schoolchildren across the country.”
Institutional actors also collaborate with the platform. Africa Relief and Community Development pledged a borehole for Pacharr Lower Basic School. What’s On Gambia arranged borehole repairs at Daru Mbayen Lower Basic School and toilet renovations at Tallinding Upper Basic School. To lower costs, they negotiated with private companies such as GACH Global Trading, Jah Oil, and Jimpex, negotiating prices and securing materials. Their interventions expanded to Fatima Senior Secondary School in Bwiam, reinforcing their reach into multiple regions of The Gambia.
Several followers see the potential for even more ambitious citizen‑driven development. One, Ousainou Njai, referenced Ethiopia’s self‑funded Grand Renaissance Dam, suggesting that Gambians could similarly finance major infrastructure, possibly including a privately funded Banjul‑Barra ferry service. Another follower, Abibou Gibba, argued that philanthropy must accompany improved governance, stating, “The teaching sector is really neglected; meanwhile, President Adama Barrow spent millions on media houses to promote his rotten national government agenda.”
Beyond philanthropy, What’s On Gambia has emerged as a civic watchdog. Gambian Researcher Sherrifo Jobarteh notes, “What’s On Gambia has become an essential watchdog, exposing abuse, corruption, marginalization, and misconduct in both public and private institutions. Its posts have forced rapid action from landlords, employers, and government offices.” One example involved a landlord who ignored complaints about an overflowing septic tank until a video was posted on the platform. He immediately hired a service truck to fix the problem. In another case, a sick father who could not feed his family received D6,000 from donors within hours, Jaiteh said.
The platform frequently supports overlooked frontline workers as well as citizens’ emergencies. Police officers and school principals have received rams during the muslim Festival of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha, the muslim Festival of Sacrifice), locally called Tobaski. Nursing students have benefited from tuition payments. When two siblings were struck by a car, the platform provided D10,000 for their care. When a young man’s horse, his family’s only source of income, was killed by a vehicle, What’s On Gambia provided a replacement horse and D34,000 additional support. Additionally, disability-focused interventions have included wheelchairs for the physically challenged and maternity support for amputees.
The platform also confronts abuse, marginalization, and systemic inequities. It exposed alleged “modern‑day slavery” at Coco Ocean Resort & Spa, where Gambians were reportedly excluded from senior roles. Domestic violence cases have been highlighted, including one involving a woman abandoned by her husband while pregnant; she received over D45,000 in donations. The platform has also addressed institutional negligence and consumer protection issues, including raising awareness about expired goods at Alvihag Supermarket.
It petitioned the National Assembly’s Petitions Committee in 2022 over allegations of corruption at the Gambia Ports Authority, and it played a role in pushing for an investigation into missing cocaine at the Kanifing Magistrate Court, which led to the arrest of a magistrate and other staff.
Followers often describe the platform as a democratic space. One wrote, “What’s On Gambia, The Grand Bantaba is the Government of the People on Facebook, they do and continue to do what the Government is supposed to be doing.” Another added, “The Grand Bantaba is not just a space for information; it is a powerful tool for direct communication between the government and its citizens.”
What’s On Gambia’s influence on education, medical emergencies, rural water supply, economic empowerment, and governance illustrates a broader shift toward citizen‑driven nation‑building. As one follower stated, “Without the effort of some patriotic citizens, I wonder how Gambians will live.” Another said, “You are making an impact, giving hope to the hopeless and jobs to the jobless.”
In essence, the Grand Bantaba is crafting a new philanthropic narrative, one grounded in transparency, shared responsibility, and community‑driven action. By telling the right stories and mobilizing collective generosity, What’s On Gambia demonstrates that ordinary citizens can redefine the boundaries of development and governance.
The platform shows that when storytelling is aligned with accountability and compassion, it becomes a transformative force capable of reshaping a nation.