By: Foday Manneh
The leader of the opposition Gambia Democratic Party (GDC), Hon. Mama Kandeh has said the presence of ECOMIG forces in The Gambia is doing more harm than good to the country.
The GDC leader made this statement during a press conference organized by his party on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
“The presence of the ECOMIG Forces, otherwise called the Peacekeeping Forces in The Gambia, is not doing any good to us; instead, it is doing more harm than good,” Mama told Journalists at a news conference.
“The President has his reason for having the foreign forces here until now; that is not my problem, but let them not call them “Peacekeeping Forces” because we are not at war. Calling it a peace mission alone discourages investors from coming to The Gambia when we are peaceful here,” Kandeh argued.
On the current spite in crimes and murder cases in the country, the GDC leader urged the government to be bold in its actions to ensure the lives and properties of Gambians are protected without compromising the security of the nation.
Kandeh further challenged the government to provide all the necessary logistics and support to the country’s security forces with the motivation to ensure Gambians are safe.
Also sharing his thoughts on the new birth registration certificate, Mama Kandeh said Alkalos’ and Chiefs’ attestations should not be eligible to produce a birth certificate; instead, a National ID or Passport should be strictly considered.
He added that these documents from the local authorities could deny citizens their right to acquire a digital birth certificate and encourage non-Gambians to produce one.
Hon. Kandeh also highlights the need to digitalize the tax collection system to combat corruption and promote accountability and transparency in The Gambia.
