Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Banjul Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe has sounded a strong alarm over what she describes as the increasingly toxic and unsafe nature of Gambian politics, particularly for women, calling on President Adama Barrow to intervene and restore decency in the public space.
In a statement posted on Friday, Mayor Lowe said the current political climate is “very worrying” and is driving away “good people, especially women,” due to the rising wave of personal insults, character attacks, and disrespectful rhetoric that now dominates national politics.
According to her, many capable women with “the heart, mind, and vision to help our country” are now hesitant to enter politics because the environment has become hostile and more focused on destroying reputations than debating ideas.
“This is a great loss for our democracy and our nation’s future,” she warned.
Mayor Lowe appealed directly to President Barrow—“President of all Gambians”—to use his authority to curb what she described as a “degrading style of politics” that undermines the dignity of public service and discourages national unity.
“A true politician is not measured by the insults they can give but by the policies they hold and the solutions they offer,” she said, insisting that leadership must be based on ideas and integrity, not verbal attacks or ego-driven confrontations.
She expressed concern that “power overshadowing our moral compass” is endangering the country’s democratic pillars, especially the need for fairness and consistency in the justice system.
For democracy to thrive, she stressed, citizens must have confidence that laws are applied equally “by the police, by the courts, and throughout our justice system.”
Mayor Lowe also reminded President Barrow of his own recent remarks to visiting officials, in which he encouraged Gambians to set aside political colors after rallies and focus on nation-building. She said this aspiration cannot be achieved “if the campaign trail is full of malice and humiliation.”
“We cannot build a united country on the broken pieces of personal dignity,” she cautioned.
Calling for “political maturity,” Lowe urged all political actors to shift from attacking individuals to addressing policy issues and to make political competition about “who has better ideas, not louder insults.”
Her plea, she said, was delivered as “one public servant to the highest office,” reflecting the concerns of many women and citizens who want a more respectful, inclusive, and issue-based democracy.
“Let us support politics that encourages everyone to participate, not one that uses fear and disrespect to silence them,” she concluded.
