Media will never be silenced again – President Barrow
By: Pa Modou Bojang,
Farafenni, North Bank Region – The President of the Republic, H.E. Adama Barrow has challenged Gambians journalists to foster transparency in government by reporting on its activities as much as possible.
Speaking from Farafenni, a major town in North Bank, the President said his administration operates on a policy of absolute transparency and commits itself to the values of good governance, transparency and accountability as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2018-2021.
He added that the media has a high stake in the NDP stating that all draconian laws that affect press freedom will be repealed and replaced with a more progressive one which will encourage access and free flow of information in the country. Scores of speakers praised the Barrow administration for enabling unprecedented freedom of speech and expression, which was an elusive dream for the past decades.
He empathized with the press on the hardship they endured during the former regime, promising never again to the dark days of media gagging. He said his govt would adopt a different stance.
A youth representative at the Farafenni meeting welcomed the idea of a bridge at the Banjul-Barra crossing point saying that it’d open the town to the rest of world connecting it to Dakar Cairo and Lagos.
The speakers also lauded the 24-hour electricity supply they enjoy while calling for an extension to satellite communities.
Before Farafenni, the delegation had a rousing reception in Noo-kunda.
