GAMBIA DEMOCRATIC ACTION GROUP (GDAG) AND SAVE THE GAMBIA DEMOCRACY PROJECT ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCHING OF A NATIONAL CONFERENCE
GDAG and STGDP are excited to announce the launch of a national conference dubbed GAMBIAN CONFERENCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE to be held in Raleigh, North Carolina from May 18, 2013 to May 19, 2013.
Like most countries in the world confronted with lack of democracy, good governance, rule of law, and stability, the ultimate liberation of The Gambia lies squarely on the shoulders of her citizens. Thus, the crying sounds of mothers and children seeking justice for loved ones tortured, humiliated, unjustly jailed or brutally murdered are clarion calls to every son and daughter of our land. As part of that journey to liberate our country, the Gambia Democratic Action Group (GDAG), a political group in Raleigh North Carolina U.S.A, and Save the Gambia Democracy Project (STGDP), U.S.A, in collaboration with several civil society groups will organize a NATIONAL CONFERENCE in Raleigh NC, from May 18 to May 19, 2013. The conference will focus on how to bring about sustainable change and the liberation of the Gambian people.
As we celebrate the Gambia’s forty-eight years of nationhood since we took the responsibility to carve our own destiny, and even as everyone questioned her viability, it is indeed a reality that the improbable nation The Gambia, still stands. The Gambia was one of the smallest countries in sub-Saharan Africa at the dawn of Independence, with a population of less than half a million, close to ninety five percent of the population were illiterate not to mention the non-existence of a viable economy. Today, there is a generation of Gambians with the human capital to lift the country and demonstrate to the whole world that Gambia is indeed a viable nation. It is also a fact that the generation of the Founding Fathers notwithstanding the huge challenges on the eve of independence; were able to build a country, established their sovereignty and garnered respect by putting together the building blocks of a proud people, and weaved a tapestry of a diverse people to create a proud Gambian nationality. Whilst the majority of countries at the dawn of independence resorted to ethnic strives and cleansing, and others resorting to coups and counter coups, The Gambia embraced multi-party democracy, independent judiciary and a respected public service.
Unfortunately, for the last eighteen years, The Gambia’s current military turned civilian President Yaya Jammeh high-jacked the country and reversed the democracy and stability that was garnered in the first thirty years of her existence. Present day Gambia is put under siege by a dictator. Unquestionably, Gambians in the Diaspora are seen as a crucial group that will have to be a major stakeholder to rescue the country from tyranny. To confront this reality, groups in the Diaspora and political stakeholders on the ground will have to come together and pursue the very beliefs we share: commitment to bring good governance, rule of law, freedom of the press and to set our country back into economic recovery.
As part of the journey to restore democratic governance and the rule of law, the goals of this national conference are as follows:
- To identify strategies and plans from all Gambian groups, political activists, and organizations within and outside of the Gambia committed to bring about democratic changes in the Gambia
- To formulate a permanent, solidified, centralized coordinated mechanism to abridge, facilitate, and enhance inter-Gambian group co-operation from the Gambia and the Diaspora.
- To harmonize strategies and efforts in bringing a cohesive front representative of all emerging Gambian groups and organizations.
- To lay out actionable plans that will help in bringing change to the Gambia soon.
- To begin the preliminary work of devising and preparing for a post Jammeh transitional period, to avoid a power vacuum in the Gambia when change finally arrives.
We will keep you posted with all updates for this important national conversation and your support will be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Contact Information:
Alkali Conteh: [email protected]
Musa Jeng: [email protected]
Pa Samba Jow: [email protected]
Kindest Regards
GDAG & STGDP