Republic of the Philippines

Department of Science and Technology

Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus
Oligan, Dipolog City

Decolonization in Gambia

(A Position Paper)

Arwin V. Delasan

IX - Sodium
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus
Oligan, Dipolog City

Decolonization in Gambia took place in the mid 1960’s. Gambia as a colony was a great

colony. It maintained its economy under the British Colonizers. As we might think, why did the

British colonizers grant Gambia to govern themselves? Gambia was one of those colonies who

were given a chance to build their own economy. After gaining their independence, Gambia

became a republic within the Commonwealth. Gambia was experiencing coup d’états inside their

government, attempts to overthrow a political party. However, nowadays Gambia had been able

to gain political stability despite all of that happening. But resources in Gambia are a bit of

limited. As we all know, African countries suffered greatly from colonizers. Some of the

countries became poor and dependent due to the colonization. Gambia is one of them.

Gambia did indeed benefit from the British colonizers. But I would still prefer it to

become a totally independent nation. One of the reasons is that Gambia’s economy had been

developing. According to TradingEconomics.com, “The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in

Gambia was worth 1.01 billion US dollars in 2017. The GDP value of Gambia represents less

than 0.01 percent of the world economy. GDP in Gambia averaged 0.49 USD Billion from 1966

until 2017, reaching an all time high of 1.01 USD Billion in 2017 and a record low of 0.04 USD

Billion in 1966”. Even though it is not that much of a rise, it still shows that Gambia’s economy

have been developing despite having all the struggles such as suffering from limited resources.

As of today, democracy had been popular in Gambia. This is also one of the reasons, why I favor

Gambia being an independent nation more than a British colony. I believe that under these

circumstances Gambia’s economy would not last long if it was still a constitutional monarchy.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Science High School – Zamboanga Peninsula Region Campus
Oligan, Dipolog City

Because in these circumstances, I think that there would be coups that are going to happen in the

near future. Gambia’s people need democracy, because if they choose a certain person to rule

them. Then it would be easier for the government and the people to understand each other. Since

the people are the ones who elected them.

I think Gambia is better of being a British colony. As I said before, Gambia benefited

from the British colony. The Gross Domestic Product(GDP) of Gambia did increase but it is not

enough to ensure that the country has developed in a positive way since independence.

Considering the massive growth of the colonizer and is also one of the superpowers today. If

Gambia continued to be a British colony, its economy would’ve developed way more than what

it is today and it would not have to suffer from the lack of resources. Since in this situation,

Gambia being a British colony it would automatically become a constitutional monarchy.

I support my original view, it is better to give Gambia a chance to be independent.

Gambia’s Gross Domestic Product(GDP) is not enough to prove that Gambia’s economy has not

developed in a positive way. There could be instances in the future that Gambia’s economy will

rose at the top. Considering that it is a democratic nation, its people should be focusing on

rebuilding the country. Even if the colonizer is one of the superpowers today, we cannot

guarantee that it will help Gambia to develop as a nation.

As the conclusion, decolonization benefits both the colonizers and the country that is

colonized. Gambia as a colonized country gained and loss from its colonizers. However, its

decolonization greatly affected the future of Gambia that gave the country stability and peace.

Gambia is better of being a completely independent nation after all.