By Binta Jaiteh
Pateh Baldeh, the former spokesperson of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the current President of the Network for Gender Journalists for Women and Cultural Advancement, The Gambia has warned that The Gambia does not need a “tribalist leader, but a leader who is ready to unite the people.
In an exclusive interview with this medium, the controversial politician advised the government to give space to women by appointing them in key positions and also to involve them in decision making.
“Many years during the first term of President Adama Barrow both the Vice President and the Speaker of the National Assembly used to be women with two female governors, and despite creating new line ministries the government failed to increase the number of females in the cabinet and also in the diplomatic service,” he observed.
He continued: “There is no female deputy governor appointed in all the five regions of the country. There is no gender balance even looking at the five nominated National Assembly Members which should all be women to show that President Barrow is ready to empower our women.”
Baldeh finally stressed that out of the 53 elected members at the Assembly, only three are females and that number is very low considering the number that contested, while calling for the empowerment of women for sustainable development.