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| Momodou |
Posted - 30 Jan 2017 : 13:56:06
Building The New Gambia
By Madi Jobarteh
Citizenship Governance: Let us All become Activists.
Governance is different from the Government. Governance is the process by which citizens of a society manage their affairs and resources through a series of polices, laws and institutions. The Government is just one institution in the Governance system of a country. Election is one process of governance. For far too long we have left the Governance of the Gambia in the hands of the Government and Politicians. Consequently, since independence we have seen how we became messed up especially in the past 22 years at the hands of Government and Politicians. The Governance of a country is not the job of the Chief Servant and the Government alone. Governance is the business of all.
All citizens have a right and a duty guaranteed by our Constitution under Section 26 to play an active part in the politics and decision-making process of the country. Citizens can do this as individuals or as groups or associations of various types such as trade unions, CSOs or communities. Media institutions and businesses as well as the academia such as universities and colleges have a role. Religious and traditional leaders also have a role. Thus all citizens of the Gambia have a role in the Governance of the country. When that Governance is good based on respect for human rights, adherence to the rule of law and upholding of the principles of transparency, accountability and probity then we have what is called Democracy. This is what brings about sustainable development to a society.
Therefore fellow Gambians let us all become activists for good governance and democracy in the Gambia. Not just at the national level but also at the regional, district, ward, town and village levels. Let us begin to ensure that social justice and the rule of law prevail in every part of the Gambia, from the village to the State House, in the National Assembly and at the Courts. Let us begin to identify social ills, economic and political injustices, inequalities, discrimination and poor delivery of social services and unfair business practices in all parts of the Gambia and expose them. This is in our best interest.
Activism is not just about putting on a t-shirt or waving a flag. It is about seeking the right information in order to expose injustice and unconstitutionality. It is about enlightening, mobilizing and organizing the people to take a definitive stand on a particular issue. It is about writing petitions to the relevant authorities and the public to raise issues. It is about organizing demonstrations to show your disapproval for what is wrong or support what is right. It is about taking matters to court to seek redress and justice. Activism is not ad-hoc and spontaneous activity. It is not a one-day event. Rather activism is a continuous and consistent series of strategies and tactics based on a clear agenda or program that never ends so long as injustice and unconstitutionality exists in the society.
Let us all be activists therefore to fight for democracy and human rights and against injustice and unconstitutionality. Let us not leave life and society in the hands of only politicians, intellectuals, leaders and the government and business people alone.
Politicians and the government are mainly pre-occupied with power and how to keep power. Businesses are mainly pro-occupied with profit and how to maximize profit. Who will therefore stand for the ordinary child, man and woman? Who will stand for the citizens? Who will look over the politicians to make sure they do not oppress us. Who will look over the businesses to make sure they do not exploit us? This is why we must all be activists so that we can stand for ourselves. We need activists to protect our tax money, and to defend our rights, our constitution and sovereignty. We need to be activists to make sure the goods and services that businesses sell to us are quality and value for money. We must not allow the State and the Market to connive once more to oppress and exploit us.
I wish to see one day how we can organize the residents of Bakoteh, Dippa Kunda and London Corner to start to petition or demonstrate or take KMC and the Gambia Government to court to remove the hazardous Bakoteh dump site. I look forward to a day when folks in Kartong and Sanyang would mobilize themselves to take the Brikama Area Council and Gambia Government to court for illegal mining activities. I look forward to see citizens demonstrating against the Ministry of Communications, PURA, Gamtel and GSM companies for expensive yet poor quality Internet services. I look forward to a day when Gambians would demonstrate in the middle of Banjul against the poor delivery of healthcare services. I look forward to a day when Gambians would demonstrate against illegal arrest and detention and closure of media houses.
It is through such mobilization of citizens through petitions, demonstrations and litigation that empowers citizens to become active players in national governance. This is how a society builds durable, responsive, efficient, transparent and accountable institutions that deliver social services efficiently to the people. This is how you prevent dictatorship and tame the Chief Servant and the Government to realize that power belongs to the people. It is these methods that make the Government and politicians become honest, open and respect the people. It is these activities on a sustained and systematic program that makes businesses ethical and fair. This is what is called Democratic Governance as we see in Senegal or Ghana and elsewhere. Let us all become Citizen Activists for Democratic Governance. Today.
God Bless the Gambia
Related Topic: http://www.gambia.dk/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15150 |
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