The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) has urged young people in the Upper River Region (URR) to take an active role in promoting peaceful, inclusive and credible elections as the country prepares for the much-anticipated presidential election.
The call was made Tuesday during a youth engagement held at the Basse Area Council conference hall, bringing together youth leaders from across the region, officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), NCCE staff and other stakeholders.
The engagement, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focused on inclusive participation, electoral integrity, responsible reporting and building resilience among young people to safeguard democratic processes.
Facilitators emphasised that young people have a critical role to play before, during and after elections, urging them to participate responsibly, respect differing political views and contribute to maintaining peace and stability within their communities.
Hon. Assanatou Jallow, Youth Representative of the URR, said the training sessions were particularly relevant as the country moves towards the presidential election.
She said the engagement was equipping young people with a better understanding of their rights and responsibilities in the electoral process, while encouraging them to become agents of peace and responsible participation.
“The training helps the youths to understand the roles attached to us in ensuring a credible and peaceful election,” she stated.
Hon. Jallow urged young people to take responsibility for creating awareness and sensitising their peers on the importance of peaceful participation.
She stressed that youths, whom she described as the backbone of society, should lead by example by promoting peace, tolerance and unity throughout the electoral cycle.
Muhammed Kargbo, a participant, described the NCCE training on responsible reporting as transformative, saying the practical nature of the sessions had helped participants understand complex electoral issues and how they could apply the lessons within their communities.
“It was interactive, practical, and timely, breaking down complex issues into simple actions we can apply immediately. As a young leader, I have gained invaluable lessons that I am eager to put into practice within my community,” he said.
Kargbo further stressed that young people should not be viewed merely as participants in elections, but as a decisive force in determining the country’s political future.
He noted that youths constitute more than 60 percent of voters in The Gambia, making their participation critical to the outcome and credibility of elections.
“We are the majority of the voters, the majority of the population, and the majority of the energy that drives this nation. No one wins without us. We decide who leads,” he stated.
According to Kargbo, young Gambians are also voting for issues that directly affect their future, including employment, education, justice and opportunities.
“If we don’t vote, we allow others to decide our destiny,” he added.
The NCCE engagement forms part of broader efforts to strengthen civic education and democratic governance in The Gambia. It also seeks to ensure that young people are better informed about the electoral process and equipped to contribute positively to free, fair, peaceful and inclusive elections.
