Gambian National Assembly members for Banjul have secured a Nomination and an Award from International Organisations this week starting 11th December 2023. ECOWAS Parliament’s Media Team awarded Hon Fatoumatta Njai of Banjul South for her role in championing women’s rights and was also elected as the Secretary General of ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians. Meanwhile, Hon Momodou Lamin B Bah of Banjul North was nominated as the President of the Global Youth Mental Health Forum. Both stories are featured in this article.
ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association Elects Hon Fatoumatta Njai as Secretary-General
By Edrissa Jallow
Banjul South Lawmaker, Hon Fatoumatta Njai was elected as the Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association on Saturday 9th December 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria. Hon Fatoumatta Njai commonly known as Hon Touma is the Chair of Parliament’s Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Welfare.
According to the ECOWAS Parliament’s website, the Association was founded in 2002 to unite female Parliamentarians from the ECOWAS Parliament to support and encourage “ECOWAS Community programs that promote gender-based social, economic and cultural development”.
Additionally, Hon Njai received an honorary award from the media team of the ECOWAS Parliament and West Africa. The award recognizes Hon Naji’s “unwavering commitment to duty and outstanding personal performances, particularly, in the area of advocacy for Women and Child welfare”.
“It was with great honour today that I received alongside my speaker, Hon Vilan from Senegal and Sen Abiante from Nigeria this distinct honour from the media team of the ECOWAS parliament and of West Africa for our commitment and outstanding performances at the parliament,” said Hon Njai in acceptance of the award.
She dedicated the award to her fellow Female Parliamentarians “without whom it wouldn’t have been possible” She hopes “that the delegation of 2022-27 would replicate that of 2017-2022”.
Hon Njai is well known for promoting the Constitution Amendment Bill which aimed to increase the number of dedicated seats for women in Parliament, however, the Bill could not progress and was eventually removed from Parliament’s Agenda during the tenure of the Fifth Legislature.
Young Gambian Parliamentarian Nominated as President of Global Youth Mental Health Forum
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
One of The Gambia’s Young Parliamentarians was nominated as the President of the Global Youth Mental Health Forum (GYMHF) earlier this week. The member for Banjul North, Hon Momodou Lamin Biram Bah’s advocacy for mental health in The Gambia has not gone unnoticed abroad.
According to their LinkedIn profile the GYMHF “is a global platform powered by Peaceful Mind Foundation, based in New Delhi, India. Initiated in 2018 by PMF as “Youth Forum”, its mission is cited as “Better Mindscape for Better Tomorrow”.
In reaction to the nomination Hon Bah noted that he was “ecstatic to share [his] nomination as President by the Global Youth Mental Health Forum through Peaceful Mind Foundation. Mental health is the cornerstone of our existence, far beyond the absence of illness. It’s the bedrock of our well-being, fostering resilience, and enabling effective living. Peaceful Mind Foundation, a beacon of enlightenment since 2016, echoes the UN Global Compact, advocating for self-awareness and nurturing mental wellness at the grassroots”.
He extended his appreciation to “Dr. Nabhit Kapur and the Waa Banjul North Constituency for their unwavering support. Committed to amplifying awareness on the paramount importance of youth mental health, not just locally but on a global stage”.
Hon Bah’s commitment to championing support for Mental Health issues in the Gambia was on display earlier this week as he questioned the Finance Minister on the government’s plans to address mental health in the country during the debate on the 2024 Budget Speech.
Hon Bah highlighted that the Finance Minister’s 2024 Budget Speech noted that “given the rising number of young people falling victim to drug abuse, the Government of the Gambia through Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEA) has intensified its demand-reduction activities and making efforts to establish a rehabilitation centre to cater for the plights of drug victims”.
The young Parliamentarians recognised that the pledge was “a positive step towards approaching drug abuse as a public health problem rather than a matter of criminal justice”. However, he requested to know if these statements were only made in the Budget Speech or “if there are any timelines in establishing these desperately required facilities and how much is budgeted in the 2024 Budget to commence these plans for our youth?”
This is the type of advocacy which has seen Hon Bah awarded for his commitment to championing mental health issues in the Gambia and now Globally. Hon Bah is also the Vice Chair of the Select Committee on Health, Refugees, Disaster & Humanitarian Relief and continues to play an instrumental role in the committee.