#Article (Archive)

Kandeh: My gov’t would bring quality education, not schools without teachers

Nov 21, 2016, 10:32 AM | Article By: Njie Baldeh

Mamma Kandeh, leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has said if elected president in the 1st December polls, his government would bring quality education “not just merely building schools without qualified teachers”.

The GDC leader made this statement on Friday at a rally in Fass Njaga Choi, Lower Nuimi, North Bank Region.

Kandeh, one of the three contestants in the forthcoming race to the State House, also promised to return The Gambia to the Commonwealth, saying the country’s removal from the Commonwealth is not a solution and it was not welcomed by Gambians.

In the area of agriculture, he said it will be his priority as president of The Gambia.

“Eighty per cent of Gambians are farmers, but the farmers cannot even feed themselves much more feed The Gambia,” he said, adding that continuing rise in the prices of commodities makes life even more difficult for Gambians, more so farmers.

“Therefore, we would change the system of farming in The Gambia to make farming more rewarding,” Kandeh said.

Furthermore, he affirmed that the illegal migration of youths to Europe, through the Mediterranean Sea, would soon come to an end when he assumes power.

“The majority of the country’s youths have gone to Europe through the back-way.  This happened because there is no job in the country; so the youths were frustrated; they had to go through the back-way,” the GDC said.

He pointed out that when compared to Senegal, in terms of development, The Gambia has a long way to go.

“Senegal is bigger than The Gambia, but they are more developed than The Gambia.  Ordinarily, The Gambia which is a small country should develop faster than Senegal,” he noted.

On the rumours that he is being sponsored by the incumbent, President Yahya Jammeh, Kandeh said:  “I want to make it clear that this is not true.  I want to tell those who are out there spreading such information that the only thing I need from President Jammeh is to take the seat from him.

“When I come to power, I would work for the Gambian people rather than Gambians working for me, and when my work does not satisfy Gambians, let them remove me and bring another person.”

He said when he is voted into office, he would bring electricity to the whole country as far as Basse.

Mr Kandeh also urged the youths of the country to be mindful, and know what would benefit them in the future, adding that GDC is here to open the eyes of the people.

“When the GDC is voted into office, they would only serve two terms,” he said, adding that most of Africa’s problem is because of leaders staying longer then welcomed.

Meanwhile, the GDC also had a rally in Munyagen and Kerr Ardo villages. 

Each of these meetings was attended by a large number of people, who welcomed their presidential candidate in their respective villages.

At various meetings, supporters told the GDC leader that most of their young ones have gone through the back way to Europe, and in the process most of them died.

According to them, the mass exodus of youths to Europe is because of no hope in The Gambia, thanks to the ruling APRC government.

Ousman Jallow, chairperson of GDC Munyagen ward, assured all that the people of the area would vote “massively” for Kandeh to “remove this country from hardship”.

“There are 21 polling stations in Munyagen and in all these stations we would make sure that you come out as the victor,” he said.

The GDC leader, Kandeh, said the party has come to remove the country from “hardship and find ways to reform the country”.

“GDC is for the Gambian people and it belongs to the Gambian people. The aim of the GDC government is to bring development and create more employment for the youths of this country.”