Mamadou Tangara Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad, has stated that the Government values the Diaspora as crucial players in national development.
“As such, the National Development Plan (NDP) heralds a new approach to effective and productive engagement and partnership between government, non-state actors and the Diaspora,” he said on Monday at Constitutional Review Commission Diaspora Interface at a local hotel.
He revealed that a Gambia Diaspora Directorate (GDD) has been established under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate the government’s work in optimising Diaspora input and contributions to national development.
According to him, for now, a director, assisted by two members of staff, heads the division, adding a Diaspora strategy, which integrates practical and result-oriented Diaspora-development programs and schemes, based on global best practice, is being developed.
He also said another welcomed move by the Government is the recent announcement by the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission that Gambians in the Diaspora will vote and be voted for in the next elections, and they will have representatives in the National Assembly, noting that these are rights that have been denied for far too long.
He said the decision is a true reflection of the overwhelming views and opinions garnered during local and external consultations conducted thus far.
Tangara further pointed out that Brothers and sisters from the Diaspora, presence is of particular significance to the country and it demonstrates the will and commitment to work together in building a new Constitution that will not only last a lifetime but will lay the foundation for the new Gambia built on strong institutions, democratic principles and the rule of law.
“It is expected that the Constitution building process will add a new impetus and hope in the revitalisation of Government-Diaspora partnership for the development of our beloved country.
Research has shown that much of the discourse on Diaspora and particularly the nexus between migration and development has evolved over the last two decades.
This has resulted in a re-conceptualisation of the migration-development nexus, which has shown the important role that the Africa Diaspora has to play in development both on the Continent and in the individual countries of origin,” Tangara noted.
He added: “Indeed, the saying that the world is a global village is a truism when we examine closely how rapidly people, goods, services, ideas, and money move across borders.
It is a known fact that migrants’ contribution to development both at home and in the host countries is positive in spite of some cynics that suggest otherwise.”
He disclosed that in the Gambia, remittances from the Diaspora constitute around 20% of our GDP, rising from about USD 206 million in 2016 to USD 227 million in 2017, according to the World Bank.
Tangara stated that again, it is also known facts that while migrants bring new skills and innovative ideas and energy to their host countries, they in return come away with additional skills, ideas, and energy.
“As members of the Diaspora coming back with enriched skills and ideas, we as a nation look forward to the value you will add to this new constitution building process. A process that will lay the foundation for a strong constitution, law-abiding society and an economically progressive Gambia wherein the Diaspora can take advantage of and better play its role in realising its development potential,” he outlined.