The Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has mandated that commercial banks operating in the country, including subsidiaries of Nigerian lenders such as Access Bank, GTBank, FirstBank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank, begin a gradual transition to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals. The directive, issued on September 16, sets a compliance deadline of December 31, 2026.
This decision follows a recent meeting held on August 27, 2026, between CBG officials and the managing directors of the banks, as well as findings from an industry-wide study concerning the employment of non-Gambian staff in the banking sector. The study indicated a significant number of non-Gambians employed beyond those recognized as expatriates, contravening The Gambia’s Labour Act 2023 and existing guidelines on expatriate employment.
The CBG’s statement underscored the necessity for banks to implement a phased approach in localizing positions, while ensuring continuity of banking operations and retention of critical institutional knowledge. To facilitate this transition, the banks are required to arrange for skills transfer to Gambian employees as affected roles become vacant.
As stipulated in the Labour Act, an employer with an expatriate quota must also employ a Gambian counterpart to receive training from the expatriate. This provision aims to bolster the skill sets of local workers while mitigating risks associated with reliance on foreign personnel.
While the directive does not single out any specific bank for non-compliance, it anticipates significant changes in staffing structures across the affected institutions. Banks are now tasked with identifying qualified Gambians for these roles without disrupting their operations. Most of the banks approached for comments have requested additional time to respond.
