The Central Bank of The Gambia has ordered commercial banks, including Access Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), FirstBank, Zenith Bank and Ecobank, to replace non-Gambian employees with suitably qualified Gambian nationals by December 31, 2026.
The directive came in a circular dated September 16 and signed by CBG Second Deputy Governor Dr Paul J. Mendy.
The order followed a meeting between the central bank and managing directors of commercial banks on August 27, as well as an industry-wide review of how banks employ foreign personnel.
The CBG said the review uncovered a “relatively high number” of non-Gambians working in banks beyond those covered by recognised expatriate arrangements.
The regulator said the situation violates The Gambia’s Labour Act 2023 and is inconsistent with Guideline 9, which governs how banks employ expatriate staff. It directed all banks to adopt a phased approach to replacing existing non-Gambian staff with qualified Gambian nationals.
The CBG said: “Consequently, all banks are required to adopt a phased approach to replacing existing non-Gambian staff with suitably qualified Gambian nationals, with appropriate arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of operations.
“Banks must also ensure that as positions are localised, the transition does not cause the loss of critical institutional knowledge or disrupt day-to-day banking services.
Each bank is expected to identify suitably qualified Gambian nationals who can fill affected roles as the transition progresses.Law, quota and penalties.
The directive draws on Section 38(1) of the Labour Act, which requires any employer granted an expatriate quota to hire a Gambian understudy for that role. The provision is meant to ensure research, technology and skills are transferred to local workers over time. The law also says the Expatriate Quota Board should not approve an expatriate quota for any role where the required skills already exist within The Gambia.
