By Yunus S Saliu
After over five months halt of activities in the creative society in The Gambia because of coronavirus pandemic, a new book authored by Mod A K Secka is finally set for launching today, 11th September, 2020.
The book titled The Demise, Alternatives and Rebirth of Planning – The Gambian Experience was published by Fulladu publishers and it is a 232 pages divided into 5 chapters.
According to the author, Mod A K Secka, the book is a catalogue of history and as well as planning experience of The Gambia from independence to date.
Going by the chapters in the book, Mr Secka who started working on the book since 2012 built up the chapter one with background of the Gambia’s post-independence history until recent changes in government through elections in December 2016. This changes the he described it in the book as ‘groundbreaking development.’
In this same chapter the author discussed the levels of economic performance of the country starting from 1965 to date, while he noted in one of the pages in the chapter that ‘The Gambia was considered as a country that ‘was not viable as a nation state’ due to poor monoculture economy.
The authored used the chapter two to give detail of historical reviews of economic planning in the country from the 1960s to 1980s. In chapter three he took the readers through the experience of the various development planning process of the 1990s through to the National Development Plan (NDP) of the transition government of President Adama Barrow.
The chapters four and five talk about impacts of the various plans especially President Jammeh’s Vision 2020 and the earlier ERP and PRSP.
Meanwhile the book will be launched via virtual Zoom to observe the social distancing and as well at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) by 3pm. And to join the launching via Zoom the Meeting ID is 969 9098 7997 and the password is 353086
Shortly after the launching of this book – The Demise, Alternatives and Rebirth of Planning – The Gambian Experience, it will be available for buying at kdp.amazon.com and also at the Timbooktoo.
The book launcher is Alieu Ngum, and Dr Cherno Omar Barry is the moderator while Hassoum Ceesay will review the book.
In brief Mod A K Secka is a civil servant and economic planner, he is currently the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST).