By: Mariama Njie
Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have called on the government to ramp up efforts in reforming the civil service and security sectors.
Speaking at a news conference over the weekend, John Charles Njie, Chairman of CSOs said “as a civil society we remain concerned about the slow and lack of progress in the areas of civil society and security sectors reform.”
He said they have welcomed the development of the national security policy and the ongoing plans to create a national defense policy but since 2017 the state of the civil service and security institution remains largely unchanged.
“We therefore find this very disheartening as these two sectors are indispensable pillars in the governance and development of the country,” he added.
He said the dream of a well governed Gambia and development in the country shall remain dreams until The Gambia can boast of a professional, efficient, and responsive civil service and security agencies, acting in line with the human rights principles, standards of transparency and accountability.
“It must be noted that the recent spate in crimes, the poor delivery of basic social services and the limited availability of opportunities to our youth and women all interrelated, in this regard we also call on the national assembly and political parties to play a proactive role to enable executive to fulfil its mandate,” he continued.
He said the reforms are integral to system change which should be the major preoccupation of the parliament and political parties and urged the government to do all it can to ensure that necessary reforms are conducted immediately in order to enhance the protection of the rights and fulfilment of the needs of citizens which will go to further enhance national security and unity.
“We are disturbed that since 2017 there have been very limited initiatives and efforts by both the National Assembly and political parties to effect system change,” he added.
