By: Aja Beyai
InfoCheck, the rebranded successor to the Fact-Check Center The Gambia, launched its groundbreaking 2026-2030 strategic plan on Monday, signaling a bold push to foster truth, transparency, and accountability in the nation’s public discourse amid rising disinformation challenges.
The event marked a pivotal moment for the organization and coincided with the return of Omar Camara as Executive Director after a two-year hiatus for advanced studies. Camara, who co-founded the entity five years ago, described the plan as a “collective achievement” and a roadmap for his renewed leadership.
“This strategic plan is built on a shared value of truth, accountability, and democratic participation,” Camara said in his address. “Our vision is a Gambia where public discourse is shaped by truth, where citizens actively engage in democratic processes, and where information empowers rather than misleads.”
The five-year blueprint repositions InfoCheck as a regional hub for fact-checking, media and information literacy, and capacity building across The Gambia and the subregion. It leverages the organization’s creativity, civil society’s resilience, and technology’s potential to deliver measurable impact.
At its core, the plan rests on four interconnected pillars: robust fact-checking operations; capacity building and research initiatives; widespread media literacy programs; and institutional strengthening to ensure sustainability.
Key targets include training 2,500 community leaders and young people in discerning facts from falsehoods, developing practical toolkits for everyday use, and establishing 10 regional media literacy networks nationwide. These efforts aim to equip citizens—especially youth and local influencers—with tools to combat misinformation that undermines governance and social cohesion.
Camara emphasized InfoCheck’s unwavering stance: “We will stand for truth even when it’s uncomfortable, accountability when it’s inconvenient, and integrity when it’s unpopular. Safeguarding information integrity is fundamental to democratic governance.”
The launch drew high-profile attendees, underscoring institutional support. Keynote speaker Ms. Neneh MacDouall-Gaye, Chairperson of the Access to Information Commission, highlighted the synergy between access to information and fact-checking.
“The right to access information is a cornerstone of democracy,” MacDouall-Gaye stated. “Fact-checking ensures that what circulates in the public space is accurate and verifiable, promoting transparency and holding power to account.”
Ms. Cordu L. Jabang, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, pledged ongoing collaboration. “The Ministry will work closely with partners like InfoCheck to strengthen media literacy, enhance public communication integrity, and build institutional ties,” she affirmed.
Camara extended gratitude to key contributors, including CivicClout Consulting and Alhagie Sainey Nyang for strategy development; media houses and stakeholders for their presence; and co-founder Mariama Lisaa, the former Executive Director, now transitioning to board chairperson. “Your leadership has shaped our new face,” he told Lisaa. “I look forward to fulfilling our shared vision.”
Reflecting on national resilience, Camara invoked the Gambian people’s belief in justice and aspiration for a truth-grounded society. “Accurate information is power—the power to hold leaders accountable, make informed decisions, and build a just, inclusive democracy,” he concluded.
With disinformation proliferating via social media and traditional channels, InfoCheck’s plan addresses a critical need. By empowering citizens and fostering partnerships, the organization aims to fortify The Gambia’s information ecosystem, ensuring evidence-based advocacy prevails.
