Their Excellences, President Adama Barrow and Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone have respectively committed themselves to working together in pursuit of common policies and development agenda that responds to the need of the general population of both countries.
Speaking to journalists at a press conference held at the State House in Banjul on Wednesday February 20, 2019. The two Presidents also maintained that Africa of today requires innovative and young leadership that is capable of changing things for the better.
President Maada Bio is currently in Banjul for a three-day working visit, accompanied by the First lady, Fatima Bio. While at the State House, the two leaders held close-door meeting before emerging to address journalists.
“Gambia has a lot to learn from Sierra Leone; a country that had a bitter past but still managed to reconcile and move on. They have also changed government two to three times since then, and through democratic means,” President Adama Barrow said that these are great lessons that The Gambia could learn from.
Meanwhile, the development needs of the two countries are also being pursued along similar lines. The two leaders both seek to build strong institutions, pursue accountability of government to the people, ensure transparency in running state affairs, and commit to democracy, good governance and human rights.
President Madaa Bio on his part said such value augurs well for Africa’s future in spite of popular doubts that leaders say one thing and do another when they are in office.
He explained that in Sierra Leone, his government has made education free to all. It has also established an anti-corruption commission and a commission of inquiry to ensure that officials account for their stewardship of government positions.
A lot of Gambians underwent training in Sierra Leone universities and Colleges and Sierra Leone teachers have been supportive of Gambian education system. They also explored the need for cooperation in trade as Sierra Leone is endowed with a lot of resources that are needed in The Gambia. However, Sierra Leone can also learn from Gambia’s success in tourism, fisheries management and governance among others
“This is an opportunity to broaden and deepen both the relations between Gambia and Sierra Leone for the benefit of the two peoples,” President Bio concluded.