By: Christian Alpha Conte
Five Opposition Parties have on Wednesday 27th October 2021 officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding giving rise to a coalition known as the Alliance for Change 2021. The signing of the memorandum took place at the Penchami Hall Paradise Palace, Serrekunda, The Gambia.
Presenting the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Gumbo Ali Touray former Leader of the All People’s Party noted that since independence in 1965 The Gambia continues to confront challenges of socio-economic development. This he says is amidst the fact that the country has consolidated genuine democracy and implemented some of the most successful economic reform programmes.
He blames corruption, abuse of office and misplaced priorities as key things that have negatively impacted the country’s pace of development.
It is based on these challenges and its view that the President Adama Barrow led administration has failed to introduce meaningful reforms that some opposition parties have decided to commit themselves to form an alliance to contest the 2021 presidential elections under a unified banner and single candidate.
“Efforts to promote or build strong, disciplined, inclusive national institutions to facilitate consensus and compromise around national policy development and implementation, protection of human rights and the rule of law within a unified nation have failed.
These challenges coupled with mismanagement of economic resources have been accentuated by self-serving political conduct, where personal and partisan interests override national interests. Consequently, The Gambia now faces a near existential threat, which requires urgent redress to avert potential civil strife,” Gumbo Ali Touray said.
Making a statement on behalf of the All Peoples Party Dr Bai Biran Jagne said they as party leaders have put aside their individual political party aspirations and have now decided to work together as a united front.
“This is the beginning of the Alliance for Change, a result of our nine weeks of intense engagement and consultation. This is the beginning of the work of opposition parties that have come together to remove the government of President Adama Barrow,” Dr Bai Biran Jagne said.
Dr Ismaila Ceesay represents the Citizens’ Alliance (CA) he said as political leaders they realized that the country is at a stage where they have to put aside their egos to ensure the nation is saved from the doldrums of decadence.
“Today is a historic day, a historic day for Gambia’s democracy, and a historic day for Gambia’s development. The death warrant for President Barrow and his government has just been signed today. The framework that will lay the foundation for unprecedented socio-economic and inclusive prosperity has been signed today,” Dr Ismaila Ceesay said.
He agrees that building a Coalition always comes with challenges, but he is optimistic that other parties will subsequently join them.
Hon Mai Ahmad Fatty is Leader of The Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) he said the signing of the MOU marks a new distinction in Gambia’s match to genuine democracy.
He revealed that they have spent nine weeks of critical decision making and have now decided to restore sanity in the country’s body politics
“Today marks a new distinction in our match to genuine democracy, we are experiencing lots of challenges, mountains we must leap over, the economy is on the brink of collapse, making a living has become a difficult task. We have come together after nine weeks of critical decision making, we intend to restore sanity in our body politics,” Hon Mai Ahmad Fatty said.
He further admonished Gambians that the 2021 election is not about the contest of a crowd or buying of votes, but It is about the citizens’ health, education of their children and empowerment of young people.
“It is about changing our system of governance that has crippled our body politics. It is about changing a system that is deeply rooted and must be uprooted, it is about reforms and putting food on the table,” Hon Fatty said.
The event was climaxed by the symbolic signing of the MOU by party leaders followed by a question and answer session.
