The Dalasi, denoted by GMD, is the currency of The Gambia. Divided into 100 Bututs, the GMD has been in use since 1971.
Coins are currently produced in denominations of 25 and 50 bututs, as well as 1 dalasi. Banknotes currently produced are 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 dalasi.
Sovereign Ratings for Gambia
Gambia is not rated.
What does it look like?
Political Structure
The government of The Gambia is a republic under multiparty democratic rule, and is divided into three main (executive, legislative and judicial) branches.
The executive branch consists of the president (who serves as both chief of state and head of government) and the cabinet, appointed by the president. The president is elected by a popular vote for a five-year term (with an unrestricted number of terms that he can serve).
The legislative branch is constituted by the unicameral National Assembly, which has 49 seats (of which 45 are elected by popular vote and 4 are appointed by the president). Members of the National Assembly serve five-year terms.
The judicial branch consists solely of the Supreme Court of The Gambia.
Prominent Figures
Chief of State & Head of Government: President Yahya Jammeh (since October 18, 1996)
Vice President: Isatou Njie Saidy (since March 20, 1997)
Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia: Famara L. Jatta
Key Economic Factors
Economic Overview: The Gambia lacks significant mineral or natural resource deposits and has a limited agricultural base. Thus, approximately three quarters of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Manufacturing activity in The Gambia consists of fish, peanut and hide processing. Re-export trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government imposed pre-shipment inspection plan coupled with instability of the Gambian delasi has drawn some of the re-export trade away from the nation. The government seized the private peanut firm Alimenta in 1998, eliminating the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. The following two marketing seasons then encountered substantially lower prices and sales. Unemployment in The Gambia continues to pose a large problem. S hort-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.
Industries: Processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking and clothing.
Agricultural Products: Rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels, cattle, sheep and goats.
Export Commodities: Peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels and re-exports.
Import Commodities: Foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment.
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