Gender equality and women empowerment are high in The Gambia government’s agenda as evident in the signature, ratification and domestication of some regional and international conventions relating to women. However, despite these advances there still exists a huge gap in women participation in leadership roles and representation at the level of government.
Speaking to this medium, scores of rural women have expressed their views on this matter with optimism for future.
Aja Fatou Sillah, a resident of Basse, observed that women constitute the majority of the country but yet underrepresented at the national level.
She said the government should provide capacity building and political sensitisation to boost the understanding of women on political roles and activities.
She further observed that women leaders should increase, pointing out that could be only attained when women support, empower and encourage each other in politics.
She urged the government to consider more women participants at the national level.
She vowed to support her fellow Gambian women in politics, saying they are tired of being supporters.
“Women are the active players in the national development but they still form the least in decision making processes,” she further observed.
She implored her fellow women to collaborate, recognise each other’s effort and support one another to attain equality in politics. She added that if women do not recognise and support one another in politics, they would never achieve their goals.
Aja Neneh Darboe, the former councilor of Basse Mansajang Ward, pointed out the erosion of women's participation in national politics, saying that women can be drivers of change when given the right support and empowerment.
“Women have long been dancers and clappers to politicians thus it is high time they also take up positions and be adequately represented in decision-making processes.”
She revealed that women in the Upper River Region will support and empower each other in taking up positions and will stop being assistants to politicians or party leaders by forming their own political parties.
The former councilor recalled that over the years, when she was the councilor, she observed that women felt reluctant to participate in politics, but saying this is not happening anymore because there have been capacity building trainings on women’s political participation and political sensitisation.
She urged the government to support and encourage women in politics and introduce a system for political parties to include women.
Aja Fatou Danso, alkalo of Basse Kabakama, said women are in a better position to represent other women and their interests and would also work harder towards national development.
She observed that women in The Gambia are given few leadership roles yet they continue to suffer from some factors that militate against their effective participation such as patriarchy, illiteracy, and socio-cultural and religious beliefs.
