His
Excellency President Adama Barrow has finally arrived home, and has been given
a rousing welcome that befits a head of state.
But
as he gets settled for business, he begins to come face to face with the
realities of running state affairs and managing a nation.
Besides
sorting out security matters, setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission
to heal some wounds inflicted on many lives and domains of the nation by the
previous regime, there are serious socio-economic challenges to address as the
new era and new Gambia begins.
Job
creation, inflation and price rise, poverty eradication and many other social
issues will pose serious challenges for the Barrow government.
Although
the president has said he is happy that the bad part has finished, referring to
the recent political impasse, he as well highlighted the fact that we have now
got “the ball rolling”, which means confronting the challenges of managing
state affairs to effectively transform the nation for the better, by rising to
the challenges of ensuring good governance and bringing about national
development.
The
new political dispensation, as rightly stated by a lecturer at the University
of The Gambia, in an opinion article, will be confronted with various
challenges such as ensuring national security, stability and peace, fostering
national unity and patriotism, ensuring Institutional reforms and good
governance, putting the right persons in the right places, guaranteeing
individual rights and related freedoms, and changing public attitudes and
instilling discipline in Gambians.
UTG
Assistant Professor Burang Goree-Ndiaye further stated in his article entitled
“Challenges Facing the New Political Dispensation: What President Barrow needs
is a ‘team of advisers’ composed of specialists in the key areas of
development.”
He
also says: “Making our country better and more prosperous for its citizenry is
a collective responsibility. We have to put aside our personal interests, our
ethnic, religious and political differences, unite as one people, as our
Constitution enjoins us, make the necessary sacrifices and work for the
progress, peace and prosperity of our beloved homeland.”
We
think these salient points, as have also been pointed out by many other views
and opinions, are worthy of note and consideration in building the New Gambia
in the New Era of our nation.
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and
convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
Martin
Luther King, Jr.