ECOWAS is ready to further support The Gambia in the efforts to pursue reforms in the areas of security and defence with focus on the police and the army, a press release from the State House has said.
According
to the release, signed by Amie Bojang-Sissoho, director of Press and Public
Relations at the Office of the President, the West African regional bloc is
committed to promoting economic growth and establishing a National Peace
Council involving different sectors of the society.
The
commitment of ECOWAS was revealed by Marcel De Souza, president of the ECOWAS
Commission, during a courtesy call on President Adama Barrow.
The
ECOWAS president said the regional bloc, along with other partners such as AU,
EU, Islamic Development Bank, and African Development Bank, would continue to
take leadership role in promoting economic growth to support The Gambia sustain
its new found democracy.
He
took the opportunity to invite President Barrow to the Summit of Heads of
States scheduled to take place in Liberia in the near future.
Mr
Souza was accompanied by the vice chairman of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Edward
Singhateh, the new Permanent Representative of ECOWAS to The Gambia, Ms Vabah
Gayflor, and other senior officials of ECOWAS.
Also
present at the meeting was the minister of Foreign Affairs, International
Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Honourable Ousianou Darbo and other senior
government officials.
Media
freedom
In
another engagement, President Barrow met with a doyen media practitioner and
press freedom activist, Professor Kwami Kari Kari, members of the Media
Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and their longterm partner, International
Media Support (IMS).
According
to the press release, during the meeting, President Barrow appreciated the
important role of the media, especially the social media, during the struggle
for change by informing and enlightening the people.
The
Gambian leader asserted that the country cannot develop without partnering with
the media. He acknowledged that the
media sells government policies and programmes and its role in the transition
to democracy is recognised.
President
Barrow assured them that the media will operate within the parameters of
democracy. He observed that the former
regime suppressed the media because of fear of having an informed population
who would demand for a level playing field for democracy to grow.
President
Barrow said: “We will be media-friendly;
the media has the opportunity to inform the general public. That will help us
to grow and partner with other nations. We cannot afford to be isolated.”
He
concluded that the appointment of a media doyen like Honourble Demba A. Jawo as
Minister of Information, Communication, Information Technology is an indication
of how serious his government takes the media.
Professor
Kari Kari pledged that his organisation will continue to support the media in
The Gambia.
He
welcomed the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission which he
believed will bring out the truth about many atrocities, including the case of
Chief Manneh, a missing journalist.
Professor
Kari Kari paid homage to President Barrow and the coalition leaders for
bringing The Gambia back as a proud star of West Africa in rebuilding
democracy.
UN
stands by Gambia
In
a separate engagement, President Barrow received a high-powered delegation from
the United Nations, comprising the Assistant Secretary General for Peace
Building Support, Oscar Fernanadez- Taranco, and the Permanent Representative
of South Korea to the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Taie-yul Cho, UNDP
Resident representative in The Gambia, Madam Ade Mamonyane Lekeotje and other
senior officials.
They
were accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation
and Gambians Abroad, Honourable Ousainou Darboe, and the Gambia’s Ambassador
and Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr. Momodou Tangara.
The
purpose of their visit was to demonstrate solidarity with The Gambia’s
achievement of a peaceful transition to democracy.
The
discussions centered on the major peace-building challenges facing The Gambia,
including macroeconomic stability,
dealing with past human rights
violations through transitional justice, restoring confidence in the judiciary,
reforming the security sector, improving access to basic services, reducing poverty and promoting sustainable
development.
Other
issues discussed included the upcoming National Assembly elections scheduled
for 6th April 2017, security and the role of ECOMIG, a national development
plan, a donors roundtable and how to sustain international support for the
country.
It
would be recalled that the UN had initially committed US$3million from the
Peacebuilding Fund to address urgent peace-building priorities and the related
challenges.
