Local Councils in the Gambia: Exploring the Influence of Leadership on Performance

This study examined the effect of leadership on local council performance in The Gambia, with three objectives focused on understanding leadership roles, evaluating their effects, and examining leadership challenges. The study adopted a survey research approach; data were collected from a sample of 384 individuals out of 408,284. Rigorous data analysis methods, including correlation analysis, multiple, and simple regression, were employed. The findings reveal a substantial and statistically significant positive correlation (r = 0.797) between leadershiproles and local council performance, supported by a low p-value (.000), emphasizing the significance of effective leadership in local governance. Multiple regression analysis further illustrates that higher values of certain predictor variables (CH and IM) are associated with improved performance. In comparison, higher values of IS are linked to decreased performance, underlining the diverse factors influencing local council performance. Additionally, a simple regression analysis highlights a significant negative relationship between leadership challenges (CoL) and local council performance, emphasizing the urgent need to address these challenges.In conclusion, this study underscores the vital role of effective leadership, the relevance of specific predictor variables, and the urgency of addressing leadership challenges to enhance local council performance and governance effectiveness in The Gambia.