The editorial deplores the current situation of the civil society in The Gambia, where the sector seems to be silent over important national issues including the price and conditions attached to the National ID Card remains a concern.
Following the price and conditions attached to acquire National ID Card seems to be difficult for ordinary Gambian.
The question is- “Where are the civil societies’ in the Gambia?” That set us thinking. The issue of National document is national concern.
Back in the 1990s when the civil society, where not for profit and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), were active in national life, and led advocacy on various issues.
These organisations were active in promoting rural development, advocacy on behalf of poor people, and were real voices for change. These included youth groups, women’s organisations, and rural community-based organisations and citizens advocacy groups.
Some of these were undoubtedly, fronts for international non-governmental organisations like Oxfam, Action Aid, World Vision, Christian Aid and the like. However, in recent years, the influence and activities of these groups have waned.
They seem to be absent from national life, particularly, in the areas where they are needed the most. They are noticeable by their silence.
To put it mildly, the civil society in Gambian today is a pale shadow of its former self, failing to engage the powers that be to help shape the national agenda, and to speak truth to power.
Our investigations reveal that there are over 400 CSOs, broadly defined to include NGOs, community-based organisations, rural development and foundations. These cut across the country as a whole, but with the large advocacy groups located mainly in Banjul and Serekunda.
So, the argument cannot be that there are no NGOs or CSOs. They exist but for an agenda which is neither national nor pro-poor.
It is sad, but has to be said that most of the NGOs/CSOs are caught up in the current culture of grab and share. Others are also caught up in self-promotion of their leaders.
The National Union of Gambia Students has also lost its dynamism on the altar of personalised greed and aggrandisement; the Trade Union Congress hardly talks about workers’ rights these days.
There is no left wing movement to champion the cause of the masses any longer, and any claim to the contrary is nothing but a ruse.
The “democratic governance” institutions failed to educate citizens on the issues and engage the government on the substance and suggestions on how to obtain the new ID card or any others National documents.
Our governance is weighed down by Political party interest and lack of citizen participation. Citizen participation is frowned upon if it is done outside the remit of identifiable political groups.
Independent voices and opinions are silenced, while all along the leaders of the civil society are eyeing the next big position in government under the aegis of their political parties.
The lack of radical media to champion alternative development options and citizen voices also account for this malaise.
As usual, “celebrities” took over the debate from the operational tactics of some members of government official’s to monetary donations. Have we not been there before? But also know that this will not last long.
The area of governance is even more disturbing. Our governance campaigns should encourage citizen involvement and participation but even this has been hijacked by corporate interest think tanks, political parties and urban-based organisations with access to resources.