Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) is the state-run national broadcaster of The Gambia, providing both television and radio services. Established in 1995, GRTS operates a terrestrial and satellite TV network and a chain of MW and FM radio channels, including Radio Gambia, which is the primary national radio production station. Although GRTS officially reaches over 80% of the country’s territory, its effective audience is limited by frequent electricity outages and poor infrastructure.
Media assets
Television: Gambia Television (GRTS TV)
Radio: Radio Gambia
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
GRTS was formally incorporated under the Gambia Radio and Television Services Corporation Act of 2004, which defines it as a public service entity owned and funded by the state. The broadcaster is fully owned by the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure (MOICI).
A board of directors oversees GRTS and reports to the Minister of Information. The Director General (DG) is appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Information Minister. As of June 2025, there have been no reported changes in ownership structure or board composition. The current Minister of Information is a former Director General of GRTS, reinforcing strong government ties to the institution’s leadership.
As of June 2025, Abdoulie Sey is the Director General (DG) of GRTS. He was officially appointed in April 2023, succeeding the previous DG, Malick Jeng. Sey is an insider, having worked across editorial roles at GRTS since 2007, and holds a Master’s in International Multimedia Journalism from the University of Kent, UK.
Source of funding and budget
GRTS is primarily funded through two public mechanisms: direct government grants and revenue from the Global System for Mobile (GSM) levy on telecommunications operators, which is collected by the state and partially allocated to the broadcaster.
GRTS has not published financial reports for recent years, and no detailed financial data for 2024 or 2025 are publicly available. However, according to independent experts familiar with the broadcaster’s internal records from 2017–2018, government support—including both direct grants and levy transfers—continues to account for more than half of GRTS’s total income.
The Ministry of Information (which oversees GRTS) was allocated GMD 67.60 million in the 2025 national budget, representing about 0.13% of the total national “All Funds” budget for 2025. However, no GRTS-specific line item was publicly disclosed, but the broadcaster remains heavily dependent on state funding, often receiving partial or delayed disbursements. These financial challenges have resulted in frequent staff shortages as journalists migrate to better-paid positions in private media.
Editorial independence
The legal framework in The Gambia provides only limited protections for editorial independence. While Section 208 of the Gambian Constitution obliges all state-owned media to offer “fair opportunities and facilities for the presentation of divergent views and dissenting opinions,” in practice, GRTS operates under strong government influence.
Despite formal claims of neutrality, the broadcaster’s editorial line is perceived as aligned with the government. There is no statute or regulatory mechanism in place to enforce or independently assess GRTS’s editorial autonomy. GRTS is not governed by a public service broadcasting charter, nor is it overseen by an independent regulator. In 2022, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) denounced an internal directive instructing GRTS staff to avoid coverage of labor protests, calling it a clear act of censorship. In May 2025, further public criticism emerged on social media warning against the partisan use of GRTS in electoral coverage.
While improvements in media freedom have been noted under the current administration—particularly in the print and digital sectors—broadcast media remain subject to executive control. GRTS continues to be used as a vehicle for government messaging, with little space for dissenting or opposition voices, particularly during politically sensitive periods.
July 2025