Opposition presidential aspirants pledge to transform Gambia

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By AMADOU MANJANG

The five opposition presidential candidates campaigning across the length and breadth of the country to contest against the incumbent, President Adama Barrow have all asserted that they will bring greater and positive development to the Gambia that the current administration refuse to do or incompetent to realise.

Mr. Ousainou Darboe, standard bearer for the United Democratic Party (UDP) said the government has failed to address Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the UDP leader his party’s five-point agenda sought to diagnose what he described as the sick sectors of the Gambia, from lack of water, roads, market, and quality education among others.

Mr. Halifa Sallah, the presidential candidate for the People’s Democratic Organization for Independent and Socialism (PDIOS) believed that the country does not have any sense of direction.

He said the country needs a “system change” not mere regime change that took place in 2016.

He said his government would create a cooperative bank of farmers in their pursuit for the eradication of poverty.

Mr. Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) stated that the country is at a stage where there should no longer be tolerance for the misuse of public resources and absolute control of the majority by a few.

Kandeh believed that digitalization of all government transactions would help fight corruption.

He continued: “Fighting corruption must be in the forefront of political discourses.

Mr. Essa Mbye Faal, an independent presidential aspirant said the government has not been interested in implementing any Truth Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) report.

He vowed to implement TRRC’s anticipated report that is expected to recommend the prosecution of people who bear the highest responsibility for the human right violations under the past regime of former President Yahya Jammeh.

Mr. Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh, seeking the country’s high office under the ticket of National Unity Party (NUP) criticized the Barrow government for incubating corruptions in the country.

Jammeh promised to set-up an Anti-Corruption Commission within six months if elected in office.

He said they will support the Commission to be fully operational without failure, “fear, favor or ill-will,” pledging to prioritize the fight against corruption.