By: Fatou Krubally
Halifa Sallah, the Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has stated that “independence is a process, not an event for the Gambia.”
He made the statement at the Gambia’s 60th Independence Anniversary ceremony organized by the National Youth Parliament on Tuesday.
Sallah emphasized the need for a shift in mindset and a radical rethinking of sovereignty and national development., noting that independence cannot be seen as a one-time event.
He stressed that the country, like many others, has been oppressed, humiliated, and discriminated against for too long, and the fight for sovereignty is an ongoing struggle that requires a reimagining of governance and national wealth management.
He called for a government system rooted in the sovereignty of its people and the fair distribution of its resources.
Sallah argued that the true test of a nation’s independence lies in the hands of its citizens. “Sovereign national wealth must be harnessed to build industries, generate employment, and improve living conditions for the people,” ” he emphasized.
He critiqued the current state of governance, where he noted that foreign corporations have too much control over the nation’s assets, from the land to the ocean.
He pointed out that while the people of The Gambia are the rightful owners of these resources, their interests are often sidelined through corporate agreements and foreign exploitations.
He stated that Singapore, despite being a small nation, has effectively utilized its national wealth to boost its economy and improve the living standards of its people, saying that “sovereign wealth is the foundation of development and any nation that neglects this fundamental principal risks sinking into poverty and stagnation.”
Sallah urged Gambians to move beyond superficial political ideologies and focus on building a system that is equitable and sustainable. He underscored that the conversation surrounding development should not be limited to government change but should encompass a wider, more inclusive national dialogue.
He urged its citizens to take control of their sovereignty and national wealth.
