Hamat N.K Bah, Minister of Tourism and Culture doubling as the Leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), Sunday, 24th November, 2019 assured Gambian Journalists that they will not suffer twice in the country for merely doing their job.
Acknowledging the importance of journalists, Honorable Bah who was speaking at the annual President’s ‘Meet the People Tour’ in Basse, Upper River Region (URR), said the pivotal roles the journalists played in year 2016 in effecting the needed change of governance in the country cannot be overemphasized.
The Tourism Minister’s comment came on the heels of assaults meted on three journalists – Sally Jobe of Kerr Fatu, Ebrima Jambang of Gambia Talent and Promotion and Landing Ceesay of Paradise FM covering the tour.
The three journalists has cried foul play in the hands of certain supporters of the President who assaulted them at Lamin Koto-Janjanbureh ferry crossing point when they were filming some youths of CRR who attempted to blocked the President’s motorcade from crossing.
He stressed that The Gambia is a democratic state where freedom and liberty of journalists is highly respected. “You cannot suffer under Jammeh’s rule and suffer under Barrows government too, we won’t allow that”, Minister, Bah emphasised.
He went on that the President himself and the entire government continue to recognize the efforts of Gambian journalists especially for their efforts in effecting a change of government in the country in 2016. He stated that the government already launched an investigation into the matter with immediate effect.
“Under Jammeh’s rule, journalists were killed, some encountered all kinds of difficulties but that won’t happen under Barrows leadership. The loyalty you have for your country is clearly demonstrated by the job you are doing but we still ask you to continue to be fair and neutral in carrying out your work”, he reiterated.
Meanwhile, the Gambia Press Union (GPU) has since condemned the assault of these journalists, as the safety and security of journalists in the country and presently on the President’s tour remains a concern of the union.