At a meeting with religious leaders on Wednesday at the State House in Banjul, shortly after attending the congregation prayers at the King Fahad Mosque, President Barrow urged Gambians to be law-abiding and to serve the country honestly.
The dialogue meeting between the President and religious leaders is a traditional engagement dating back to colonial days. Muslim leaders, led by the Committee of Banjul Muslim Elders, visit the State House every Eid-Ul-Fitr, known as Koriteh, for a meeting with the President to pray for the nation and dialogue on issues of national interest, such as security, power supply, politics, and high-cost living.
On this occasion, President Barrow reminded government workers that they are employed to work for The Gambia, not for the President. He said the country would develop faster than expected if everyone performed their duty honestly, considering the national interest.
“You would hear some people saying they don’t want to work for me, but they should know they are working for the country, not me,” he said in the Mandinka language.
President Barrow advised everyone to respect the country’s laws. He reassured that the “Operation Clear the Road” exercise is not a witch hunt or intended to make people’s lives hard, as some people perceive it, but to promote safety on the road.
He vowed that the exercise would only affect illegal structures.
In preparation for the May OIC Summit, President Barrow appealed to Gambians to keep the country clean to promote a healthy nation.
He said several energy projects are currently being implemented nationwide to ensure universal access to electricity.
He also encouraged people to pay taxes on time for national development.
He explained that the government is concerned about the high cost of living but is equally doing everything possible to address concerns not limited to The Gambia.
Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Lands, Local Government, and Religious Affairs, urged religious leaders to preach to the public about unity, peace, and the virtues of being a good Muslim. He also urged people to support one another and to create begging centers to reduce street begging.
Several speakers expressed appreciation to the government for its ongoing efforts to improve the lives and livelihoods of Gambians through various initiatives. They encouraged the government to do more to improve security, reduce the high cost of living, enforce traffic laws, and look into the increasing rate of street begging.
