The Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has called for constructive engagement between the government and the Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) movement, urging dialogue as the preferred path for addressing citizens’ concerns.
Speaking at a government press conference on Friday, Dr. Ceesay emphasised that the administration is ready to work with all Gambians, including GALA, to tackle pressing national issues such as corruption and financial accountability.
“One thing we want to emphasise is that the government is ready to engage citizens, to discuss issues that are of critical concern to everyone,” he said. “We and the citizens, particularly GALA, are not at different convergence points. We are all talking about the same thing, and we are all concerned about the same things.”
The Minister underlined that the government shares the same priorities as the GALA movement, particularly in ensuring transparency and responsible management of public funds. “We have a commitment to fight corruption and to ensure that public finances are judiciously managed. And I think that is what GALA wants,” he added.
Dr. Ceesay urged Gambians to move away from street protests and instead engage through structured discussions, warning that confrontation could hinder progress. “Let us engage rather than confront and resolve our problems in discussion rooms rather than the streets because it will be in nobody’s interest,” he said.
Framing dialogue as a cornerstone of democratic governance, the Minister described the moment as an opportunity to usher in a “new chapter” in The Gambia’s political development. “Today will open a new chapter in our democratic challenge that will focus and promote engagement rather than confrontation,” he declared.
Reiterating that “the government’s doors are always open,” Dr. Ceesay called on citizens to take advantage of formal platforms for dialogue. “We are aware of your concerns, and the government is ready to work with you. Resolving these concerns will open our doors for engagement. And I hope going for engagement will be the appropriate action in dealing with our collective issues.”
The press conference signals a notable shift in the government’s stance toward civic activism, moving from confrontation to cooperation. Whether this approach will bridge the gap between authorities and campaigners like GALA remains to be seen.
