A Season That Unites Us”: President Barrow Calls for Service, Unity and Renewed Hope in Christmas Broadcast By Raymond Enoch

President Adama Barrow has reaffirmed the Gambia’s enduring spirit of unity, religious tolerance, and national resilience, urging citizens to embrace service, compassion, and collective responsibility as the country prepares to usher in a new year.

In his 2025 Christmas Broadcast delivered in Banjul, The Gambia, President Barrow congratulated Christians in The Gambia and across the world, describing Christmas as more than a religious celebration but a universal season that speaks to shared human values of love, peace, forgiveness, and goodwill.
“Christmas reminds us, regardless of our faith, of our collective responsibility to one another,” the President said, noting that these universal values remain essential to strengthening national cohesion and social harmony.

President Barrow acknowledged persistent global economic pressures but highlighted The Gambia’s steady progress in national development. He cited continued expansion in infrastructure, improvements in healthcare delivery, better access and quality in education, and the growing strength of democratic institutions.

According to him, these gains are the result of collective national effort, as confirmed during his recent “Meet the People Tour”, which showcased the resilience and determination of Gambians across all sectors.

From farmers feeding the nation and teachers shaping future generations, to healthcare workers caring for the sick and security forces safeguarding peace, President Barrow emphasized that every Gambian has played a role in advancing the country.

A central theme of the broadcast was The Gambia’s long-standing tradition of peaceful religious coexistence, which the President described as one of the nation’s greatest strengths.
He praised the harmonious relationship between Christians and Muslims, highlighting how communities celebrate each other’s festivals, support one another in times of need, and live together as families.
“This is tolerance at its best,” he said, stressing that in a world increasingly affected by religious intolerance, The Gambia stands as proof that diverse faiths can coexist and prosper in harmony.

The President urged citizens to protect this national value and pass it on to younger generations, ensuring religion remains a bridge rather than a barrier.

Drawing inspiration from the life of Jesus Christ, President Barrow called on Gambians to use the Christmas season to serve the weak and vulnerable. He encouraged citizens to reach out to those in difficulty, care for the elderly and sick, comfort the grieving, and share blessings with those in need.

President Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to inclusive development, assuring citizens that national progress would continue to reach all regions, ethnic groups, and religious communities.
Special emphasis was placed on improving living standards and creating opportunities for youth and women, whom he described as central to The Gambia’s future.

He urged Gambians to approach the new year with renewed determination, unity, and a spirit of sacrifice, noting that challenges such as job creation and economic growth require collective effort.

Addressing the Christian community directly, President Barrow assured them of the government’s continued protection of freedom of worship, while acknowledging their invaluable contributions to education, healthcare, social services, and moral leadership.

He concluded with a message of reconciliation and national renewal, calling on Gambians to set aside differences and focus on shared history, aspirations, and destiny.
“We are a people of common descent and a nation bound together by our future,” he said.

The President ended his address with prayers for peace, healing, hope, and prosperity, wishing all Gambians a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.