Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- In response to the petitions of Gambians against Looted Assets (GALA), the government of the Gambia held a press conference attended by several cabinet Ministers to speak to the public through the media about its stance on the petitions.
During the press conference, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Service, told the gathering that his government is encouraging GALA and other citizens to explore diplomatic means of addressing concerns rather than going out to protest.
GALA petitioned the government about the $30 million Petroleum Scandals, the general update on the progress of audited cases involving corruption and fraud, and the implementation of the acute kidney failure or AKI panel investigations.
“Let us solve our problems in discussion rooms rather than in the streets because it will be of nobody’s interest. That is what we are planning as a government. We want to engage every citizen, be it GALA, be it anybody as long as we are citizens, we are concerned,” Dr. Ceesay told the gathering.
The Information Minister said his government has a commitment to fight corruption and to ensure that public finances are judiciously managed, saying “I think that is what GALA wants.”
“We are all talking about the same thing and we are all concerned about the same things. We have a commitment to fight corruption and to ensure that public finances are judiciously managed and I think that is what gala wants. So let us engage rather than confront,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay further stated that government offices, and doors are always open for the public without any appointment.
“Come and let us sit and engage and discuss our issues and solve it in an amicable manner as expected in any civilised democracy. That is what we want,” he said.
Dr. Ceesay believes that the government’s decision to hold a press conference about the GALA petitions will open a new chapter in the country’s democratic journey that will focus and promote engagement rather than confrontation.
“That will focus on solving our problems in our offices, in meeting rooms, in conference rooms rather than in the streets. I hope that we are closing that chapter now and now we are moving to engagement,” Dr. Ceesay told the members of GALA at the gathering.
Dr. Ceesay further told GALA and every citizen, every youth, that the government is aware of their concerns and is ready to work with them to resolve these concerns.
The Information Minister said their doors will be open for engagement and hopes that going forward engagement will be the appropriate action they will take in dealing with collective issues.
“But one thing that we want to emphasise as a government, that we are ready to engage citizens, to discuss issues that are of critical concern to everyone. We and citizens, particularly GALA, are not at different convergence points,” Dr. Ceesay stated.
