Press Release
It will be recalled that after twenty-two years of autocratic rule, the Gambian people took the first decisive step towards a democratic government in the momentous elections of December 2016 which ended dictatorship and ushered in a new order. It marked the beginning of efforts to transform The Gambia into an inclusive, economically vibrant, rule-of-law based, developed nation with wide citizenry participation in the affairs of the country. Although the last year-and-a-half have steered in a wave of unforeseen changes in The Gambia, the country must still overcome significant hurdles in order to reverse and repair a legacy of twenty-two years of serious abuse and mismanagement.
To help ensure the success of The Gambia’s transition from authoritarian rule to peace and democracy, The Gambia Transition Brain Trust (GTBT) was formed in January 2018, under the auspices of the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT) and publicly launched on 26 April 2018. The GTBT comprises an interdisciplinary group of 13 Gambian economists, lawyers, civil society, religious, academic, public sector management and business leaders, who will provide independent expert advice aimed at assisting the country’s leading decision-makers. The members will produce key policy recommendations that draw upon the trust’s and IFIT’s combined knowledge of the Gambian context and transition lessons from other contexts.
It represents a unique local space for generating creative and effective policy ideas to promote the economic, political, social, institutional, and legal transformation necessary to ensure The Gambia has a successful transition into a democratic and inclusive country.
To provide more information about the Brain Trust’s main aims, objectives and modus operandi, we invite members of the Media, both private and public to a Press Conference scheduled to take place at 9.30 am on Friday 28th September 2018 at the GTBT headquarters, Sahel Knowledge Campus, MDI Road.
Juka Fatou Jabang,
Coordinator, GTBT
