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somita
United Kingdom
163 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Jan 2006 : 15:32:53
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Foroyaa Editorial .... I found it interesting and wants to share it with folks.
The Gambia government intends to host the A.U Summit in July 2005. The estimates reveal that the funds allocated for the activity is 118 million Dalasis. Questions are being raised as to whether economic and political factors may not militate against the holding of the summit.
Economically, the Gambia is being punished for failing to maintain public finances in a transparent and accountable manner. The highly indebted poor country initiative, which had the support of the IMF, did not reach completion point because of poor public sector financial management.
The completion point would have enabled the Gambia to receive debt relief or cancellation. While revenue has not met the target envisaged the country is conditioned to burrow beyond 200 million dalasis to meet recurrent expenditure. The Gambia is therefore constrained economically to meet the cost involved in the summit.
Secondly the A.U has put in place a peer review mechanism to promote best standards in governance.
One expected that the Gambia will become a model state by signing the memorandum of understanding establishing the peer review mechanism. It was anticipated that it will also be a promoter of regional integration.
In a recent interview the president used some very harsh words to describe some of his African colleagues as well as his opponents in the Gambia. His threat not to show tolerance puts into question the meaning of spending D118 million to host a summit. The members of the public are definitely questioning the merit of spending D118 million to host the summit. The public debate should continue. Foroyaa will conduct an investigation on the opinion of the public.
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