By Oumie Bojang
Civil Society Organisation Coalition encouraged journalists to engage presidential candidates on their policies and manifestos to ensure accountability, transparency, and good governance.
Speaking at a media briefing, Mr Kawsu Abdoulie Jadama of the Open Society Platform Gambia, said together with the National Democratic Institute, they are leading CSO coalition efforts to advocate for inclusive open governance and accountability reforms in The Gambia.
“This overarching objective is aimed at strengthening good governance frameworks and increase The Gambia’s chances of becoming a member of Open Governance Platform (OPG),” he said.
Mr Jadama added that the OPG is a select group of over 77 countries that promote open governance globally. The Gambia remains the only Anglophone country in West Africa that is yet to become a member, he said.
Fatou Bintou Sallah, programme officer for NDI, said her organisations with its partners work to promote openness and accountability in governance, by building political and civic organisations safeguarding elections and promoting citizens participation.
“The institute brings together individuals and groups to share ideas, knowledge, experience and expertise that can be adapted to the needs of individual countries like The Gambia,” Ms Sallah said.
“NDI and OSPG partnered to support The Gambia to lead CSO Coalition efforts to advocate for inclusive open governance accountability reforms in The Gambia,” she added.
Nfamara Jawneh, the executive director of Bekanyang, said it is important to engage political parties and their candidates to address issues of accountability and transparency in their campaign trails.
“As campaigns are ongoing, this is the time to ensure that our candidates prioritise issues of accountability and transparency,” the rights activist stated. “This will enable electorates, to consider voting for candidates who will open up the government, prioritise open governance and not hide critical government information from citizens.”
