By Yunus S Saliu
As part of their efforts in cultivating a stable and safe democratic environment in The Gambia to enable all citizens participate fully in the governance and development process of the country, the officials of the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) are currently on a twenty-six day massive awareness campaign on Democracy and Responsible Citizenship within the communities of Jarra and Kiang in Lower River Region of the country.
The twenty-six day campaign is part of the NCCE’s lined up activities on Democratic Governance and Civic Rights and Duties of Citizens in a Democracy.
According to Yusupha Bojang, acting program officer at NCCE, this campaign, he said “will help address some of the illusions about democracy and the notion of the new Gambia, which is causing certain irresponsible behaviors which could affect the peaceful coexistence in the country if not addressed.”
Addressing the citizens in various meeting held in Sukuta, Njoba Kunda, Darsilami, Nyawulurung and Welingaraba all in Jarra East district, the senior civic education officer at NCCE, Ansuman Yabo dilated on NCCE’s mandate.
He informed the communities of the Jarra East that the Phase I of the campaign after the December 1 presidential elections started in Kombo South while the Phase II took place in Foni Bintang Karanai district in West Coast Region. This time around, he said the campaign which started in Jarra East is the Phase III “and it is democracy that gives opportunity to people to sit and discuss about the welfare of its nation freely,” he stated.
Yabo described democracy as a form of government under which the laws and structures of government lies ultimately in the hands of the citizens. He noted that democracy does not mean insulting the leadership, putting false information against government, mismanaging public funds just to mention a few.
He went further to say that democracy does not mean bad rule unless bad rulers introduce bad rule into their governance system while stressing that democracy works through collective decision.
Alkalo Jarra Sukuta Sambou Saidykhan, VDC chairman Alhagie Sulu Saidykhan, Koba Saidykhan, Imam Morikebba Saidykhan both from Jarra Sukuta commended NCCE for educating them on democracy and what it entails.
