His
Excellency Adama Barrow attended his maiden African Union (AU) Summit this
week. President Barrow was one of many African leaders who attended the 29th
Session of the AU Summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.
The
Summit’s main theme was “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments
in the Youth,” a subject which resonates with The Gambia, given its huge youth
bulge. Young people make up 60 to 65 per cent of the country’s population, and
tackling youth unemployment is an important area of focus for the Gambian
President.
President
Barrow and his fellow leaders discussed such issues as peace and security and
providing a secure future for African youth through strategic interventions,
including silencing the guns on the African continent.
President
Barrow supported the AU reforms to promote good governance. The AU is
challenging its member states and governments, the private sector and civil
society to invest in the youth. Other highlights of the summit were prevention
of child marriage, the use of new technology and alternative sources of
funding.
The
AU is encouraging its member states to respect the will of their people in the
promotion of democratic values. The success of democracy in The Gambia was
amongst those examples cited as best practice in the AU’s Peace and Security
Council report. Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma, who chairs this
council, presented the report.
The
President held bilateral meetings with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and
Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir. Whilst networking at the Summit, President
Barrow also briefly exchanged courtesies with Foreign Minister Agapito Mba
Mokuy of Equatorial Guinea, amongst other dignitaries.
President
Barrow also met with the Gambian community in Ethiopia. He reminded his fellow
citizens of the importance of togetherness in achieving the desired change in
The Gambia. The President told them that his government had inherited a poor
financial and economic situation, and he encouraged them to join all Gambians
in contributing positively to the country’s development. He specifically urged
Gambian intellectuals to invest in the advancement of the nation.
President
Barrow used the occasion to present the African Gender Award 2017, which he had
earlier received from the AU, to his accompanying Minister of Trade, Industry
and Employment, Dr. Isatou Touray. Dr Touray is a leading gender activist in
Africa and in The Gambia in particular.
In presenting the award to her, President Barrow acknowledged her as “a
strong women who had been fighting for women, and who deserved even more.”
Dr.
Touray said it was indeed fitting that President Barrow had been selected to
receive the award himself. She thanked him for the kind honour bestowed on her.
Gambian
Ambassador to Ethiopia Mass Axi Gai spoke with appreciation of the cordial
relationship amongst Gambians in Addis Ababa. He paid special tribute to Dr.
Yankuba Gassama, the AU Director of Medical Services, for his outstanding
contribution to the AU and to the community.
Speaking
on behalf of the Gambian community in Ethiopia, Alhajie Sambou Gassama said
Gambia had earned the respect of the international community and provided
valuable lessons for other nations.
He
spoke about the efforts that the Gambian community had made to give visibility
to the change in The Gambia, and he called on the former president to respect
the will of the people.
Ida
Jallow, a Gambian lawyer in Ethiopia, said that while The Gambia was a small in
size and population, its intellectuals had taken leadership in the
international community.
Kalipha
Manneh of the AU described his compatriots in Ethiopia as a true family.
In
his vote of thanks, Mr. Lawally Cole congratulated the Gambian government for
creating the environment for freedom of expression and for bringing back
democracy. He called for youth empowerment and urged his fellow expatriates to
return home and to invest in the youth.
Addis
Ababa is home for many Gambian nationals, and they came to the event in large
number to express their appreciation to President Barrow and the coalition
government.
As
part of his engagements at the AU, President Barrow was given the honour of
adding the portrait of the first Gambian Head of State, Sir Dawda Kairaba
Jawara to the Gallery of the Founding Fathers at the AU Headquarters building.
President
Barrow said it was interesting that he was born in the historic year that the
AU was founded, and that he felt extremely honoured to add the portrait of Sir
Dawda to the gallery.
Other
members of the presidential delegation to the 29thAU Summit were First lady
Madam Fatou Bah-Barrow, Foreign Minister Ousainou Darboe, Health Minister
Saffie Lowe-Ceesay, Secretary General Dawda Fadera and other senior government
officials.
