The death of former VP of the Gambia and the leader of the Gambia Peoples Party (GPP) Assan Musa Camara alias Andrew Camara has been announced. Hon. Camera was receiving treatment in South Africa where he lost the battle against an unknown illness.
A source reaching Gainako confirmed that the former political heavy weight in the country one of the longest political survivors and eldest states man passing is a great loss to the country. Gambia today has lost yet another great son of Africa and humanity at large. Camara has contributed immensely in the development of the country”.
Mr. Camara has helped transformed Gambian politics registering his own political party after he was excluded in a new cabinet in the aftermath of the 1981 failed coup attempt during which he briefly acted as President while Senegal try to restore Democracy in the country. The late Assan had contested elections as Presidential candidate of the GPP in 1987 and 1992 respectively. His party along with other opposition parties lost both elections to the ruling PPP government. After the 1994 over throw of the Jawara regime, Assan was seen as one of few remaining politicians from the Gambia former regime who could potentially step in and head a transition government before the young Junta implanted themselves into a two year transition.
Mr. Camara played a key role in the formation of the NADD coalition and was believed to be the only non party affiliated with any other party at the time. That supposedly earned him the chairmanship and confidence of his peers. Assan was later frustrated with the lack of progress with NADD and its eventual down fall. That appeared to be the last hope Assan had in seeing political change in the Gambia.
Many close observers of Gambian politics believed that the infamous age limit ban on contesting elections in after the military take over in 1994 was believed to specifically keep Assan out of contesting elections since he was not tainted by the alleged corruptions former PPP officials were involved in. This provision banning citizens 65 years and over cannot contest elections has continued to create controversy in the Gambian constitution.
The late Assan’s political legacy is now history but many believed that he has done his quarter to promote democracy and good governance in the Gambia. Mr. Camara who was 90 years old is survived by several children and grand children in the Gambia. He passing is a great loss to the Gambian nation.
Editor’s note: Our sincere condolences to the Late Mr. Camara’s family and friends. May his gentle soul rest in eternal peace.