Gambia Orders Banks To Replace Foreign Workers With Gambians

The Central Bank of The Gambia has directed all commercial banks in the country to replace foreign workers who are not covered by approved expatriate quotas.

The regulator gave the banks until 31 December, 2026 to complete the process and fill the affected roles with qualified Gambians.

The order affects every commercial bank operating in The Gambia. This includes Nigerian-owned lenders like Access Bank, FirstBank, Guaranty Trust Bank and Zenith Bank, as well as pan-African banks such as Ecobank.

According to the Central Bank, the decision followed a sector-wide review. The review found a relatively high number of non-Gambian employees working in banks outside the officially approved expatriate list.

The Bank said this practice goes against The Gambia’s Labour Act 2023 and Guideline 9, which regulates expatriate employment in the banking sector.

Under the new directive, banks must now identify qualified Gambian professionals to take over the positions. They are also required to create clear succession plans and ensure proper transfer of skills and institutional knowledge.

The CBG stressed that the transition must be handled carefully to avoid disruption to banking operations and customer services.

But the directive has triggered strong reactions. Many observers say the move contradicts the spirit of free movement within West Africa.

Gambian commentator Alpha Bah questioned the logic. He said African countries cannot demand better treatment for their citizens abroad while restricting fellow Africans at home.

He argued that the same standard used to judge Western countries on migration should also apply when an African government restricts African workers.

Financial analyst Chukwunonso Ihuoma also raised concerns about capacity. He asked whether The Gambia has enough qualified local talent to replace the affected workers without hurting efficiency.

He warned that a rushed localisation could increase costs for banks. According to him, recruitment, training and compensation adjustments could outweigh any savings from cutting expatriate staff.

Emerging markets analyst Ike Ibeabuchi shared a similar view. He said key banking functions like treasury, cybersecurity, risk management, technology and compliance need specialised experience.

If qualified local replacements are not readily available, he noted, operational capacity could suffer.

Ibeabuchi added that the order could disrupt the regional banking model. Nigerian and other pan-African banks often move experienced staff across subsidiaries to support operations.

Restricting that flexibility, he said, will make regional operations more expensive. It could also drive up salaries as many banks compete for the same small pool of qualified Gambians.

He further warned that unpredictable employment rules may affect investor confidence. International banks may see this as regulatory risk when planning future expansion in the country.