GPU ends a day forum on the role of media on democracy and development

The Gambia Press Union on Wednesday February 2, 2017, ended a day long stakeholder’s forum on the role of the media in enhancing democracy and development. The forum which was held at Tango headquarters in Bertin Harding Highway brought participants from the Ministry of Justice, security forces, civil society organizations among others.
Speaking at the forum the Project manager Sang Mendy said The forum was part of a project called ‘Building Capacity for Advocacy pioneered and implemented by the Gambia Press Union and its partner The Gambia Media Support. He said the aim of the forum was to build partnership with relevant institutions as well as recommend solutions to pertinent issues relating to freedom of expression in order to pave way for the enactment of press friendly laws.
Sang pointed out that the Gambia Press Union in 2016, had conducted three separate trainings for members of the Armed and Security Forces, members of the ministry of Justice, and the National Assembly.
“To build on those trainings, the union thought it wise to bring together representatives from those three bodies, the media and civil society to discuss on press freedom issues,” Mendy said. This he said was with a view to exploring strategies aimed at expunging the draconian laws in the country. “We are confident that we did not make any mistake in designing this project and bringing each and every one to this very important event,” he said. Mendy said Gambians are now openly expressing themselves since the coming of the new government. He said but those laws that were limiting people to being silent remain still in the books.
The GPU project manager said it is important to note that the workshops and this seminar that were organized by the union were aimed to raise the voice of GPU on its advocacy for freedom of expression and access to information. Sang Mendy stated that without a free media and media friendly laws, the attainment of democracy and development would remain a mere dream.
Mendy thanked the Danish Civil Society Organization through the Gambia Media Support (GAMES) for providing the funding for the project.

Saul Njie a representative from the ministry of Information pointed out the crucial role free media plays in national development. He confessed that in the past government, people were not allowed to express their opinions. Njie said with the present government under the leadership of President Barrow the future of the Gambia is bright.

Njie called for professionalism among the media practitioners. He said the media is very powerful thus there is a need for those who used the media to be well train. He thanked the Gambia Press Union for organizing the forum for stakeholders.

 story by  journalist Modou Kanteh