By: Fatou Dahaba
In a significant step toward deepening democracy, Activista Gambia on Saturday hosted a high-level breakfast meeting that brought together National Assembly Members, civil society organizations, and community representatives to review progress on constituency dialogues and chart a path for more responsive governance.
The event, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), highlighted Activista Gambia’s Constituency Dialogues initiative, an ambitious project designed to bridge the gap between elected representatives and the people they serve. Through direct community engagement, the dialogues have given citizens a platform to voice pressing concerns, prioritize needs, and collaborate with their lawmakers on solutions.
Ansumana Camara, National Coordinator of Activista Gambia, welcomed participants and commended the organization’s national board, regional members, and National Assembly Members for their commitment to the project. He revealed that while the initial goal was to reach all 53 constituencies, dialogues were successfully held with at least 45 lawmakers, with some participating in multiple rounds.
“We urged National Assembly Members to make clear pledges on the recommendations gathered during these dialogues,” Camara said. “These concerns come directly from citizens in their constituencies, and they deserve concrete action.”
The breakfast meeting aimed to ensure that recommendations from the first phase of dialogues move beyond reports into tangible parliamentary action. Participants discussed how findings could inform legislative proposals, committee inquiries, budget scrutiny, and oversight functions.
Marabi S Hydara, Director of Committees at the National Assembly, emphasized that citizen participation, accountability, and transparency are the bedrock of democracy. He affirmed Parliament’s readiness to partner with civil society to reflect citizens’ voices in lawmaking and policy processes.
“The findings from these constituency dialogues should not gather dust on shelves,” Hydara stated. “They must shape parliamentary questions, inquiries, and legislative work to promote people-centered governance.”
Speaking on behalf of fellow lawmakers, Hon. Abdoulie Njai of Banjul Central described the dialogues as vital for sustaining democracy beyond election cycles. He noted that citizens raised critical issues, including youth unemployment, healthcare, education, infrastructure development, transparency, and access to basic services.
“Democracy is sustained through dialogue, participation, and accountability,” Hon. Njai said. “These engagements have helped citizens understand our constitutional roles while allowing us to explain governance processes. Accountability is not an attack on leadership – it is part of leadership itself.”
Civil society voices reinforced the call for action. Alagie Camara, Child Sponsorship Manager at Action Aid The Gambia, praised the initiative for building trust between citizens and representatives, particularly by creating space for youth and marginalized groups.
“Accountability must be a lived reality, not just an aspiration,” he said. “The recommendations from these dialogues must translate into concrete improvements in people’s lives.”
Konko Kandeh, Program Officer at Activista Gambia, acknowledged both the successes and the challenges faced by the project, including limited resources and initial public skepticism. Despite these hurdles, she noted that the initiative has amplified the voices of youth, women, and marginalized communities while strengthening public trust in institutions.
The Constituency Dialogues represent a model of inclusive governance that fosters direct engagement between citizens and lawmakers. By turning community feedback into parliamentary priorities, the project aims to lay a stronger foundation for transparent, accountable, and responsive leadership in The Gambia.
Organizers expressed hope that Saturday’s breakfast meeting would mark the beginning of a new phase where pledges made by lawmakers would lead to measurable progress, ultimately reinforcing democratic gains in the country.
