The Gambia Press Union recently held its congress at the Gambia Multi-Media Training Institute (GTMI), marking the end of a three-year stint for the former executive, and the election of a new executive to steer the affairs of Gambian journalists for another three years.
No doubt, there was lot of noise in the countdown to the congress, but we are glad that Gambian journalists were able to amicably handle all the issues peacefully and maturely.
While we wish to welcome with open arms the newly-elected members of the executive, we hope that they will guide the GPU with even greater enthusiasm for the betterment of all Gambian journalists.
The new executive’s immediate challenge is to heal the wounds caused by the acrimony that marked the last days of the Ndey Tapha Sosseh led presidency.
The new executive has to come across as the rallying point of unity, cohesion and solidarity in the struggle for greater press freedom and freedom of expression in The Gambia.
They know as well as anyone else that journalists around the world operate in many and varied difficult circumstances.
With this, they will have to bear in mind that in the struggle for a better media environment, dialogue and consultation will have to take precedence over disagreement and senselessness.
Specifically, we would like to see more advocacy work done on the disappearance of Chief Ebrima Manneh and the stalled investigation into the murder of Deyda Hydara.
Also important for them is to work tirelessly on capacity building opportunities for Gambian journalists.
Because we believe that lack of effective communication and openness was the undoing of the Ndey Tapha-led presidency, the present executive would be wise to open up to explain its actions to the general membership whenever the need arises or even during monthly meetings.
With this, there will be transparency, and members will have more confidence in the Union.
We wish the new executive the best of luck.
“Common sense is the best distributed thing in the world, for we all think we possess a good share of it”.
Rene Descartes