The Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG) has directed commercial banks operating in the country, including subsidiaries of Nigerian lenders, to begin replacing non-Gambian employees with suitably qualified Gambian nationals. This move is aimed at developing local capacity in the banking sector. The CBG set a December 31, 2026 deadline for full compliance with the directive.
According to the CBG, an industry-wide study revealed a "relatively high number" of non-Gambians employed by banks beyond staff formally recognised as expatriates. This practice contravenes provisions of The Gambia's Labour Act 2023 and is inconsistent with guidelines governing the employment of expatriate staff in the banking industry.
The CBG's directive followed a meeting between the regulator and managing directors of banks on August 27, 2026. The regulator stated that banks must adopt a phased approach to replacing existing non-Gambian staff with suitably qualified Gambian nationals. Banks are required to make arrangements for skills transfer and continuity of operations during the transition period.
The Labour Act 2023 provides that an employer granted an expatriate quota for an expatriate position is required to employ a Gambian counterpart to understudy the expatriate. This provision facilitates the transfer of research, development, technology, knowledge, and skills to Gambian employees.
The CBG's position is anchored in provisions of the Labour Act dealing with the training of Gambians by employers. The law prescribes penalties for violations of expatriate employment requirements, including fines of not less than 500,000 dalasis for employers who engage an expatriate without obtaining the required expatriate quota clearance.
Banks operating in Gambia, including Access Bank, GTBank, FirstBank, Ecobank, and Zenith Bank, will need to review their existing staffing structures and expatriate arrangements in their Gambian subsidiaries. The directive is expected to trigger a significant change in the banking sector's employment practices.
The CBG emphasised that the transition process should not disrupt banking operations or result in the loss of critical institutional knowledge. Banks are required to complete the transition by December 31, 2026, while ensuring that the process is smooth and well-managed.
Key points
- The Central Bank of The Gambia has set a deadline of December 31, 2026, for banks to phase out non-Gambian staff.
- The directive aims to develop local capacity in the banking sector and ensure compliance with The Gambia's Labour Act 2023.
- Banks operating in Gambia, including subsidiaries of Nigerian lenders, must adopt a phased approach to replacing non-Gambian staff with suitably qualified Gambian nationals.
