By: Kemo Kanyi
The Alliance of Social Democrats (ASD) movement led by Marie Sock, has accused the government of President Adama Barrow of failing to deliver its expectations as promised.
The ASD said The Gambia’s security sector reform, civil service reform, access to information, accountability and transparency within the government, and the rising cost of food commodities are alarming and require government intervention and redress.
“The Gambia’s education system is suffocating due to underfunding of programs that fix structures and curriculum. Our national development plan has been implemented with misplaced priorities. This misplacement has hijacked our agricultural services delivery due to the state’s underfunding of the agriculture sector. Our tourism sector requires re-examination and total rebranding to attain its purpose. Our health sector is not responding to the needs of Gambians,” Marie Sock stated in a statement during a press conference held at her residence in Bijilo on Wednesday.
The ASD leader emphasized that the recent increase in murder cases and armed robbery has left the population in fear and frustration, stating that the security efforts to curb this menace are weakened as some of the officials at the presidency have become an open “campaign team” for the NPP on social media, including those charged with key responsibilities to advise the president on matters of national interest.
She added that there is increasing evidence that corruption and unregulated donations are exercising undue influence on politics and undermining the integrity of elections in The Gambia, saying, “Money from organized crimes has infiltrated politics in the country to gain control over elected officials and public institutions.”
“There is a need to regulate uncontrolled and undisclosed political financing transparency, which is instrumental to democracy and security which serve as a major challenge to the integrity of elections in emerging and mature democracies alike,” she stated.
She underscored the importance of democratic institutions and the National Assembly’s engagement to ensure “regulated political financing”, is included in the country’s electoral laws, adding without it, can diminish political equality, provide opportunities for organized crimes to purchase political influence, and undermine public confidence in elections.