By Yusupha Jobe
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has urged The Gambia government to enact a freedom of information Act in order to enable journalists to keep public offices accountable and transparent.
In a press statement signed by the party Leader and Secretary General Lawyer Ousainou Darboe on the occasion of the Workers Day celebration, which read “For the reason UDP wish to take the two occasions to salute all the workers and journalists on the special days dedicated to them and to send out solidarity message to the leaders of the unions.
“We are mindful that without the work of journalists and the media it would be difficult to hold power to account. And without transparency and accountability the people will labour in vain.
“A free and vibrant press is essential to the health of high energy democracy. We therefore call on the government to enact a freedom of information act to ensure transparency and integrity in the management of public affairs,” the statement added.
The statement stated further on the current preparedness efforts of the government in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. According to the statement, more rapid strategy mitigations should be ramped up in ways to reflect the urgency of the pandemic especially in the areas of testing for the virus.
“UDP as a party will continue to appeal to the government to ramp up their mitigation strategies in ways that reflect the gravity and urgency of the challenged faced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We should expand testing for the virus and upgrade our severely under resourced health facilities. We commend all the frontline workers and those giving support to the vulnerable to cope with the pandemic.
The need for assisting each other during this time is great and it would require collective collaboration and a sustain spirit of shared sacrifice to overcome the virus,” it conclude.
