Central Bank of The Gambia orders banks to replace non-national staff

The Central Bank of The Gambia has issued a directive requiring all commercial banks to replace non-Gambian employees with qualified Gambian nationals. The transition must be completed by December 31, 2026.

Following an industry study, the regulator found that a high number of non-Gambians are employed in the banking sector beyond the number of positions formally recognized as expatriate roles. The Central Bank stated that some of these employment arrangements violate the Labour Act 2023 and are inconsistent with existing guidelines on expatriate staff.

The directive, signed by Second Deputy Governor Dr. Paul T. Mendy, instructs the 11 licensed commercial banks—including Access Bank, Ecobank, First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, and Zenith Bank—to adopt a phased approach. This process must include arrangements for skills transfer to ensure continuity of banking operations and stability during the transition.