The Executive Director of Beakanyang has called on young people in the country to go out and get registered before the close of registration in order for them to participate in the fourth coming presidential elections.
Mr. Nfamara Jawneh was speaking recently in an interview with this reporter at his office at Serre Kunda.
According to him, chanting for political parties and their candidates will be meaningless if one is not registered.
“The issue of political apathy among Gambian youth should be a thing of the past now,” he noted.
According to Jawneh, young people constitute over 60 percent of the Gambian population and as such they are critical in the country’s democratization process.
“As an observer, I have visited several registration centers across the country where I have seen more women and less youth registering so far. We need more women and youth registering as they constitute the majority of our population,” he said.
On the allegation of non-Gambians registering in some parts of the country, Jawneh said that such people should be prepared for legal actions at the revising courts.
“This voter registration is meant for Gambians from 18 years and above and therefore foreigners should stay away from attempting to register,” he stressed.
Beakanyang boss noted that electing leaders such as presidents and national assembly members is an important exercise and civic rights that no citizen should stay away from.
“In a democracy every vote matters and as young people your vote is your voice,” he added.
He reiterated his organization’s commitment in promoting human rights and democracy in The Gambia.
