By Omar Bah
Mai Ahmad Fatty, leader of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) and coordinator of the NPP’s political alliances secretariat, has been tasked with uniting coalition partners and strengthening President Adama Barrow’s position for the upcoming polls.
Fatty’s GMC formally joined the NPP Grand Alliance in late 2024, a move seen as critical for consolidating the ruling party’s support base.
In his first official statement as coordinator of the alliance, shared with The Standard yesterday, Fatty said: “As we stand at the threshold of 2026, our nation faces a defining moment. The strength of our democracy does not lie in the unbridled exercise of individual will, but in the disciplined harmony between personal freedoms and collective responsibility. This is not merely a political principle but a cornerstone upon which stable societies are built and flourish.”
He added that a mature democracy is not measured by how loudly its citizens can protest, but by how wisely they exercise their rights within the framework of law.
“Our constitution grants sacred freedoms, but it equally demands sacred responsibilities. Those who mistake the government’s respect for fundamental rights as weakness, gravely misunderstand the nature of true democratic strength.”
Fatty added that the rule of law is not a suggestion but a very foundation that protects every citizen’s rights, including the right to dissent.
“When individuals or groups attempt to hold the state hostage through reckless disregard for legal boundaries, they do not champion democracy; they endanger it. Citizens have rights. The state has rights. Neither exists in isolation, and neither may be exercised at the expense of the other,” he stated. Personal freedoms, he added, “are stretched beyond their constitutional limits, they cease to be rights and become instruments of chaos”.
“We reject the notion of a subjective democracy governed by individual inclinations rather than established law. True democracy thrives on objective principles, not personal whims. As we approach 2026, let this message resonate clearly that the full force of the law will be deployed to protect our citizens and preserve our democratic institutions. This is not a threat against constitutional rights but a solemn promise to safeguard them.”
He said the law will distinguish between responsible dissent and reckless disruption, between legitimate protest and unlawful chaos.
“Those who believe they can manipulate legal loopholes or exploit democratic processes for destructive ends will find that our justice system is both patient and resolute. We will not allow the abuse of freedom to become the enemy of freedom itself. Our nascent democracy requires careful nurturing, not reckless experimentation. We seek to build a responsible democracy where rights and duties exist in perfect balance, where individual liberty serves the common good, and where the rule of law reigns supreme over the rule of might.”
He added: “This is our patriotic duty. This is our democratic calling. This is the legacy we owe to future generations; a democracy that is both free and orderly, both dynamic and stable, both protective of individual rights and respectful of collective needs.
The path forward is clear.
“We can choose the difficult but rewarding road of disciplined democracy, where freedom and responsibility walk hand in hand. Or we can allow the corrosive forces of lawlessness to undermine the very foundations that protect us all. There should be no doubt that we shall totally reject the latter.
The Government’s commitment to fundamental rights will never waver, but neither will it resolve to ensure that these rights are exercised within the boundaries of law and mutual respect. This is not oppression. It is protection.”
As patriots and citizens, he added, “we must embrace this balance. Our democracy depends on it. Our future demands it. Our children deserve nothing less.”
