The training held at the Baobab Hotel, was organised by The Gambia Press Union (GPU) through funding from International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).
The two-day forum was aimed at promoting a safe environment for media practitioners and to discourage physical attacks on media workers during elections.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pa Modou Faal, a board member of The Gambia Press Union, described the training as ‘timely’, as the country heads to December 4th general elections.
The forthcoming election, he added, is a critical moment for journalists and their safety and security is very vital.
“Journalists are there to serve the people and that they are the agent of change and the mirror of the public. So reporting factual information about the elections is key, but safety and security of journalists should be considered not only from the government but also by the political parties.” he noted.
Faal, therefore, urged all to respect the safety of journalists, while advising journalists to be mindful of scammers by protecting their social media accounts from hacking.
He equally challenged participants to make good use of the training by working as professionals before and after elections.
The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Hamat N.K. Bah, said in an engagement last week that he, as minister responsible, may make an announcement to bring sanity concerning tribalism in this country.
The minister of Energy and Petroleum says that The Gambia is 100 percent dependent on fossil fuel and biomass in meeting its energy demands.
National Council for Civic Education recently began a mass civic and voter education outreach in a bid to curb voter apathy ahead of the forthcoming National Assembly and Ward Councillorship by-elections scheduled for 7th November in the Niamina West Constituency and Kerr Jarga Ward, North Bank region respectively.
The newly renovated state of the art Maternity Ward at the Serrekunda Minor Health Centre was last Wednesday inaugurated at a ceremony held at the centre in Serrekunda. The renovation exercise, which cost about D3.5M was sponsored by The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
