By: Isatou Sarr
Ebrima H. Secka, the National Youth Parliament (NYP) candidate for Busumbala Constituency, says he wants to be remembered as a servant-leader who speaks for young people and work with them to drive change.
Speaking to the Voice newspaper recently, Secka lamented the lack of youth involvement in decision-making processes and stressed the transformative power of youth engagement in governance.
“My inspiration comes from a deep desire to be a voice for the voiceless,” Secka said. “As a youth leader and civic educator, I have seen how young people are often side-lined. I ran because I believe Busumbala and The Gambia deserve youth representation that is bold, informed, and focused on real impact.”
He plans to establish a Youth Constituency Forum in Busumbala to hold regular town halls, school visits, and digital forums aimed at listening to and amplifying youth voices. “Their ideas, frustrations, and solutions will form the backbone of my advocacy in the National Youth Parliament,” he said.
Secka outlined his top priorities: youth employment and skills development, access to quality education, civic empowerment, mental health awareness (including a pad drive initiative), and climate action across the West Coast Region.
He highlighted current challenges in Busumbala, including youth unemployment, limited access to skills training and start-up capital, and low engagement in policymaking. “There’s a growing sense of disconnection between policymakers and the grassroots realities young people face daily,” he noted.
To tackle these, Secka intends to advocate for vocational and technical training centres tailored to local needs, the promotion of agribusiness and green jobs, and greater investment in youth entrepreneurship.