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toubab1020
12241 Posts |
 Posted - 16 Aug 2021 : 19:36:18
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https://www.chronicle.gm/president-adama-barrow-threatens-to-ban-gambian-opposition-meetings-if-re-elected/
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President Adama Barrow Threatens to Ban Gambian Opposition Meetings if Re-Elected
By Mam Tala Jaw Last updated Aug 16, 2021 59
Adama Barrow to ban opposition
Gambian President Adama Barrow says he will stop the Gambian opposition from holding meetings in the country if he is re-elected into office after the December 4th presidential election.
President Adama Barrow spoke on Sunday to a delegation of the Serer community of Jeshwang he invited at the State House.
Adama Barrow told his guests of the day that he would ban his opposition in the country to concentrate on developing The Gambia.
“The opposition in this country has been holding recurrent meetings. They would often obstruct the traffic, the roads, and they have become a distraction to my power. Since my takeover in 2017, these opposition organizations have been holding meetings that have no use and would not bring any national development,” President Barrow told his audience.
President Adama Barrow has even mentioned a date that would make effective what he describes the Gambian opposition’s continuous distraction to his exercise of power.
“Their endless meetings will come to an end on December 4th. If I am the winner of the election, I will impose a ban on opposition meetings. Furthermore, I will instruct the Inspector General of police to deny them permits to hold meetings,” President Barrow warned.
According to Adama Barrow, the Senegalese opposition that recently set Senegal streets ablaze in nationwide demonstrations is way better than the Gambian opposition.
“This kind of opposition only exists here, in this country. Right to our next-door neighbor Senegal, they are not practicing this type of bad opposition. In Senegal, once elections are conducted, they come together and build their country. That is why I will make an end to their endless meetings, they are out to distract me, they are becoming a distraction to my rule. So we will ban from holding meetings,” said President Barrow.
The Gambian President then characterized the Gambian opposition as distractive and unpatriotic and prone to acting to see his government fail.
“I sometimes wonder if these people love this country. They have been spreading lies about the OIC project. They do not want to see such projects to be launched in the country,” President Adama Barrow said.
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 16 Aug 2021 : 21:41:40
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PRESS RELEASE
16TH August, 2021
CRPD Condemns President Adama Barrow’s Threat to Limit Party Political Activities Post-December 4th Presidential Election
The President of the Republic of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, has, on 15th August 2021, revealed his desire to stop all party-political activities in the country if he were to win the 4th December 2021 Presidential Election. Speaking at State House, during a meeting with the Serer Community from Jeshwang Ndagen, President Barrow stated in unequivocal terms, that if re-elected in December, the never-ending political activities, prevalent in the country since he assumed office in 2017, must be stamped out, to give way to what he called “development work”.
While speaking in Wolof, the President said:...“ We will give instruction to the Inspector General of Police and anyone who applies for a permit will not get a permit. Because we want to continue working. The meeting you’re having, blocking roads does not benefit the country in anyway.”
In recent months, President Barrow has used the State House grounds to make inconsiderate and ill-advised remarks that are not only exacerbating social tensions in the country but also threatening to undermine the democratic gains made so far.
Some readers would recall that on 28th July 2021, President Barrow was streamed live by the Barrow Media Empowerment during which the President revealed how he was part of a group that buried amulets and fetishes locally called Jujus under the head of dead bodies in graveyards, in order to spiritually expedite the release of UDP leader Ousainou Darboe, Barrow’s political godfather at the time, who was languishing in jail in 2016.
As the Presidential Election gets closer, President Barrow has been inviting to State House members of the various ethno-linguistic groups in the county to rally support for his bid for re-election. And most of President Barrow’s political rhetoric and rants have been directed at his former Party, United Democratic Party (UDP).
Reacting to President Barrow’s threat to curtail democratic freedoms in the country if re- elected in the December 2021 Presidential race, the Center for Research and Policy Development (CRPD) has released the following statement:
“The CRPD is dismayed and also troubled by President Barrow’s statement and therefore, calling on him to adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law. President Barrow must be reminded that among other things, he was elected on the basis of ending self-perpetuating rule and to return this country to a functioning democratic state.
Consequently, his latest threat to restrict and regulate the democratic space after the forthcoming Presidential Election is undemocratic and against the very principle under which he was elected in 2016. President Barrow’s remarks are regrettable as they pose a risk for Gambia’s fledgling democracy.
Therefore, we call on President Barrow to be mindful of his seemingly populist statements and instead focus on bridging the social divide in the country. His latest statement will undoubtedly further exacerbate the political polarization and divisions in the country, ahead of the December Presidential Election”.
As a civil society organization, the CRPD states that it is ever ready to defend, through civic actions and legal means, the democratic space in the Gambia against any threat that has the potential to undermine or compromise the Gambia’s democratic process.
In the same vein, the CRPD has also called on the Gambia Police Force to distance itself from such reckless remarks and unlawful directives. We urged the Police to remain in the service of the nation following the dictates of the law and constitution.
The participation of political of parties and citizenry in the political process, CRPD adds, is central to democracy and therefore, any attempt to limit or control this participation would undermine Gambia’s democratic consolidation. According to CRPD, “members of the Police are expected to protect life and property and should not, in anyway, allow themselves to be an impediment to the growth of democracy in the country. It is also time for The Gambia Police Force to unequivocally conduct itself as professional, a pro- democracy rule of law institution that respects and upholds the rule of law.”
-The End-
About CRPD
The Center for Research and Policy Development is an independent, non-profit and non-partisan social research, advocacy and capacity building organization committed to promoting inclusive democratic governance in The Gambia. CRPD works with grassroots, national and international actors to address the Gambia’s development challenges by generating and communicating research-based knowledge to help inform policies and interventions. The Center also aims to trigger local dialogues to contextualize universally relevant ideals of inclusive democratic governance, promote efficiency, transparency and accountability for a secure and an economically prosperous Gambia.
info@crpgm.org www.crpgm.org (+220)2447221 |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2021 : 14:34:32
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NHRC to engage Barrow on his threats to stop political activities
AUGUST 17, 2021
By Omar Bah
https://standard.gm/nhrc-to-engage-barrow-on-his-threats-to-stop-political-activities0/
The National Human Rights Commission’s chairman, Emmanuel Joof has said the rights body intends to meet President Adama Barrow over his reported threats to stop all political activities if he wins reelection in December.
Addressing visiting Serer communities at State House on Sunday, the Gambian leader vowed to put an end to all political meetings requiring police permits if he wins the December presidential election.
“Since I took over in 2017 you have people who are still doing politics. The politics cannot end. Every day they are beating drums, they are blocking roads. Every day they are on social media, every day they are insulting people. That will end on December 4 after the victory. We will give instruction to the Inspector General of Police and anyone who applies for a permit will not get it. We want to continue working. The meeting you’re having, blocking roads does not benefit the country in any way,” President Barrow said.
The Gambian leader also told the visiting Serer community that December will represent a make or break for The Gambia.
However, when contacted for comments as the leaders of human rights defenders in the country, the NHRC boss said: “For this one, the NHRC has decided to engage the president directly. We will desist from making a public statement until after we engage the president.”
Meanwhile, also commenting on the matter, the president of the Gambia Bar Association Salieu Taal, said on Facebook: “I could not believe my ears and eyes when I heard him [Barrow] say that he will effectively ban political rallies/gatherings after the December election and more disturbingly, he will instruct the IGP not to issue any permits for meetings.”
This, Taal added, “is a dangerous path and an affront to our fledgling democracy”.
“His reasoning was that politics has to be suspended after Dec 4th so that he continues his development agenda. Has the president forgotten that he came to power thanks to politics?
Does the president understand that he does not have the power to suspend politics in any shape or form and neither can he ‘instruct’ the IGP to grant or deny a permit to any applicant who wishes to assemble peacefully for politics or any other reasons?” Taal said.
He said the authority and discretion to grant permits for public gatherings “is vested in the IGP under the Public Order Act subject to the Constitution”.
“The right of the citizens to exercise their fundamental rights to associate and assemble cannot be displaced by considerations such as fleeting inconveniences to the public or presidential directives. Neither the president nor the police have the power to restrict the fundamental rights of the citizenry granted by the constitution as envisaged in the president’s speech,” he stressed.
Taal added: “We now live in a democracy and expect our leaders to not only practice democracy but to speak the language of democracy. We expect our leaders to imbibe a democratic culture and be the champions of democracy.
Vibrant multiparty politics is an integral part of a democracy, in essence and substance. It is through politics that we peacefully changed our destiny after twenty-two years of a dictatorship.
Politics is not only about elections and a build up to it every five years. Politics ensures good governance and accountability.”
Taal reminded the president “when we voted for change, we voted for a humble unknown man against an arrogant, pompous tyrant”.
“President Barrow, GambiaHasDecided against tyranny. Never again will any president be allowed to usurp the sovereignty of the Gambians. While it’s political season, Your Excellency, we expect you to lead by example and with dignity. Only one person will be elected as president in Dec 2021 and it is the people who will decide,” Taal stated.
He urged the president to refrain from making such “un-presidential and undemocratic” statements.
A human rights activist and social commentator, Madi Jobarteh reacted: “I urge all citizens and more so the political parties, CSOs, and the National Assembly to scold Barrow until he chokes to swallow back those despicable, undemocratic, unconstitutional remarks that he uttered in a meeting with a group of people from Jeshwang at State House!
“Let the IGP Abdoulie Sanyang be on notice that as IGP he is under no obligation to serve the personal political objectives of any president. If he does so, he will be violating his obligations to uphold the Constitution. In that case, none but him alone shall pay the price.”
Lamin Keita, the UDP’s Wisconsin Chapter chairperson, simply said: “It is dangerous and it undermines our democracy”. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12241 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2021 : 20:12:47
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https://standard.gm/group-lambasts-barrows-political-rhetoric-and-rants0/
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August 17, 2021
The Centre for Research and Policy Development has issued a statement blasting President Adama Barrow over his threat to ban all political activities after the December 4 presidential election.
In a statement, the group said: “In recent months, President Barrow has used the State House grounds to make inconsiderate and ill-advised remarks that are not only exacerbating social tensions in the country but also threatening to undermine the democratic gains made so far. Some readers would recall that on 28th July 2021, President Barrow was streamed live by the Barrow Media Empowerment during which the President revealed how he was part of a group that buried amulets and fetishes locally called Jujus under the head of dead bodies in graveyards, in order to spiritually expedite the release of UDP leader Ousainu Darboe, Barrow’s political godfather at the time, who was languishing in jail in 2016. As the presidential election gets closer, President Barrow has been inviting to State House members of the various ethno-linguistic groups in the county to rally support for his bid for re-election. And most of President Barrow’s political rhetoric and rants have been directed at his former Party, United Democratic Party (UDP).
“The CRPD is dismayed and also troubled by President Barrow’s statement and therefore, calling on him to adhere to democratic principles and the rule of law. President Barrow must be reminded that among other things, he was elected on the basis of ending self-perpetuating rule and to return this country to a functioning democratic state.
“Consequently, his latest threat to restrict and regulate the democratic space after the forthcoming Presidential Election is undemocratic and against the very principle under which he was elected in 2016. President Barrow’s remarks are regrettable as they pose a risk for Gambia’s fledgling democracy. Therefore, we call on President Barrow to be mindful of his seemingly populist statements and instead focus on bridging the social divide in the country. His latest statement will undoubtedly further exacerbate the political polarization and divisions in the country, ahead of the December Presidential Election.
“As a civil society organization, the CRPD states that it is ever ready to defend, through civic actions and legal means, the democratic space in the Gambia against any threat that has the potential to undermine or compromise the Gambia’s democratic process.” |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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toubab1020
12241 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2021 : 20:20:15
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https://www.chronicle.gm/https-www-chronicle-gm-gambian-gambian-civil-society-condemn-adama-barrows-threat-to-limit-opposition-political-activities/
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By Kaddy Jawo on Aug 17, 2021
President Adama Barrow’s threats to suspend Gambian opposition parties from politics after Dec 4th has sparked a salvo of disapproval and condemnations. Voices from the Gambian civil Society spewed some of the stark arguments to refresh President Barrow’s memory about the basics of the Democracy that took him to power in 2016.
Salieu Taal lectures President Barrow, recalls his lost memory
Taking on his personal Facebook Feed, Salieu Taal, a founding member of #GambiaHasDecided expressed shock and dismay at hearing President Barrow’s threats on his political opponents.
Salieu Taal seemed bewildered by Barrow’s radical flip from an apparent gentleman to a thick-headed would-be Yahya Jammeh. “When we voted for change, we voted for a humble, unknown man against an arrogant, pompous tyrant.”
Salieu Taal, the President of the Gambia Bar Association, called President Barrow’s threat “A dangerous path and an affront to Gambia’s fledgling democracy. We expect our leaders to imbibe a democratic culture and be the champions of democracy“.
As a legal luminary, Salieu Taal took the trouble to lecture President Adama Barrow that “The authority and discretion to grant permits for public gatherings is vested in the IGP under the Public Order Act subject to the Constitution. The right of the citizens to exercise their fundamental rights to associate and assemble cannot be displaced by the considerations such as fleeting inconveniences to the public or Presidential directives. Neither the President nor the Police has the power to restrict the fundamental rights of the citizenry granted by the constitution as envisaged in the President’s speech“.
Refreshing Adama Barrow’s seeming loss of memory, the president of The Gambia Bar Association asked, “Has the President forgotten that he came to power thanks to politics? It is through politics that we peacefully changed our destiny after twenty-two years of dictatorship. Politics is not only about elections and a build-up to it every five years. Politics ensure good governance and accountability“.
Salieu Tall finally warned that “Never again will ANY PRESIDENT be allowed to usurp the sovereignty of the Gambians.”
Sait Matty Jaw’s CRPD calls Police to distance itself from Barrow’s threat
The Center for Research and Policy Development (CRPD), led by Sait Matty Jaw, issued a press release calling on the Gambia Police Force to distance itself from Adama Barrow’s reckless remarks and unlawful directives.
“It is also time for The Gambia Police Force to conduct itself as professional unequivocally, a pro-democracy rule of law institution that respects and upholds the rule of law.”
The CRPD Release states that “President Barrow must be reminded he was elected on the basis of ending self-perpetuating rule and to return this country to a functioning democratic state.”
Sait Matty Jaw’s civil society group condemned the President’s use of the State House grounds to make inconsiderate and ill-advised remarks that are exacerbating social tensions in the country and threatening to undermine the democratic gains made so far.
“We call on President Barrow to be mindful of his seemingly populist statements and instead focus on bridging the social divide in the country. Unfortunately, his latest statement will undoubtedly further exacerbate the political polarization and divisions in the country, ahead of the December Presidential Election”.
Coach Pa-Samba Jow asks Gambians to put up resistance
A staunch foe of former Dictator Yahya Jammeh and active pro-democracy Gambia critic since Adama Barrow took over, Pa Sadaga Jow, also called Coach Pa Samba Jow, reacted to the Gambian President’s threats.
Coach warned that it behooves the Gambian people to send a clear signal to Adama Barrow that the hard-earned Democracy they fought for should not be taken for granted.
“Gambia will NOT return to dictatorship NOT because Barrow and his clique won’t try, but because We the people will resist it with all our might.”
According to Pa-Samba Jow, President Adama Barrow is not only testing the waters, but he is also revealing his true nature.
“The despicable utterances by President Barrow to instruct the IGP after December 4th to deny permits for political rallies are a true reflection of Mr. Barrow and his mindset. It was not a slip of the tongue, nor was it a mistake. Barrow is showing us his true colors and the type of leader he intends to be”, Mr. Jow explained before he concludes with this stark warning.
“The worst mistake we will make will be to simply dismiss his veiled threats as idle talk; yes, we have a constitution that should restrain him from such excesses, but lest we forget, Jammeh also had that same constitution at his disposal.” |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 17 Aug 2021 : 21:19:15
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Misleading Press Release by Government Spokesman on Pres. Barrow’s Intentions
By Madi Jobarteh
The press release of the Government Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh seeking to clarify the anti democratic comments of the President is unnecessary and not true. To claim that the President’s remarks came about because of his concern about insults in political discourse is unfounded. This is because President Barrow was a witness when his ministers, surrogates and supporters have used his own political rallies to rain insults on his opponents.
During his meet the people’s tours, the President sat in rallies as his supporters released missiles of insults without him taking any step to stop them right in the middle of their tirades. If he were concerned, he would have made sure such people are stopped ASAP and reprimanded. That’s what responsible leaders do.
Rather, we saw how the President was giggling when his Minister Henry Gomez was ridiculing opposition leader Ousainou Darboe in their Brikama rally in 2019. Just a few weeks ago, Barrow was again smiling as Minister Hamat Bah called political opponents rats. Barrow never stopped them rather he enjoyed the show.
There are uncountable media platforms in support of Barrow where his supporters continuously insult, ridicule and abuse individuals they disagree with or oppose. I have been a subject of such ridicule and insults from prominent Barrow supporters which are shared in his social media platforms. https://youtu.be/VesV5Snr01I
Therefore if Sankareh is claiming that the President is concerned about insults, I wish to state that Ebrima G Sankareh is indeed speaking bongums. What the President said about shutting down politics, whatever that means, is not a slip of the tongue or a concern about insults or anything. Otherwise we would have seen Barrow cleanse his own social media platforms first and publicly sanction supporters who indulge in insults and abuse. But he never did.
Indeed what the President said is the imagination and advice from his technocrats including the Minister of Information Ebrima Sillah and his Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh and others in State House. That’s the only interpretation we can give otherwise Sillah or Sankareh would have told the President to avoid such undemocratic statements. But this is their thinking that they are hellbent on implementing someday.
This threat to clamp down on political activity and freedom of expression is a calculated attempt to silence citizens. It is intended to shield the President and his Government from public scrutiny. It is a means to prevent anyone from holding Barrow and his Administration accountable hence serve to perpetuate corruption, cover up ineptitude, abuse of office and human rights violations.
Therefore Barrow and his Ministers, technocrats and advisors know very much what he is talking about. Just because they have failed to control the narrative, now their strategy therefore is to silence every voice so that they would become the only source of opinion and information in the country. That’s the definition of dictatorship.
Therefore let Sankareh shove this nonsensical press release to where he wants it, but no Gambian should waste time to even give it the benefit of doubt. Rather all citizens must become alert and vigilant that this unconstitutional and undemocratic words of the President are indeed the voice of a dictator! We must resist! Now.
Therefore, on my part, I wish to send Ebrima Sankareh to both Pres. Adama Barrow and IGP Abdoulie Sanyang to tell them that we The Gambia people shall not allow and will resist to death their diabolical attempt to close our mouths and our eyes! This country does not belong to them and they are not the kings of The Gambia!
The sovereignty of The Gambia resides in the People of The Gambia and all State organs, institutions and public officials derive their power, legitimacy and authority from we the People, and all State organs, institutions and public officials perform their duties on our behalf and for our welfare. This is the language of the Constitution that Adama Barrow swore to uphold and defend on the 19 January 2017 in Dakar, Sénégal.
A word to the wise is enough!
For The Gambia Our Homeland |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Momodou
Denmark
11517 Posts |
Posted - 18 Aug 2021 : 16:14:52
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President Barrow wants to turn The Gambia into a One-Party Authoritarian State. Resist
By Madi Jobarteh,
Fellow Gambians, regardless of any party or politician one supports, the time to stand up to defend democracy is higher today than ever. Because of our ignorance, dishonesty, indifference, and lethargy hence our silence and apathy we gave fertile grounds for the growth and development of dictatorship from 1994 to 2016. The price we paid for our dishonesty, ignorance and indifference is all too clear to us.
Today, we are seeing the same scenario repeating itself and we have no one to blame but ourselves. If the emergence of dictatorship took us by surprise yesterday, today we cannot claim the same excuse.
On 15 August 2021 the President unambiguously and directly and specifically stated in a public event at State House that come December 4th, if he wins the election, he will close down political activity. To strengthen that resolve, he said he will ask the IGP to not issue any permits to anyone for political activity. That statement by the President is the greatest threat posed to our democracy and Republic. It is a direct violation of the Constitution for which he should have faced impeachment if The Gambia was a normal country!
Effectively, the President intends to turn The Gambia into a one-party state under a tyranny never seen before. This is because when you deny every citizen and every political party to freely and openly participate in the affairs of the country, it means only the President will be left to engage in political activity together with those who support him. That’s the definition of a one-party state!
President Adama Barrow wants to bring back that Yaya Jammeh style of governance where only he and his party engage and participate. In that system, there will be many parties but they conduct politics at a cost to their lives and limb. It means any citizen who wishes to hold the Government accountable does so at his or her own peril. In other words, the country will be claimed to be a democracy but in fact it is a one-party authoritarian state as we had under that Tinpot Dictator. Resist.
The press release issued by his Spokesman Ebrima Sankareh has given us enough information that indeed the President intends to close this country down. Read the last paragraph of that press release to see the true intention of the President and his Government. They are now saying that they will go to the National Assembly to create a law to effectively close down or control social media.
The threat against social media has been ongoing since this Government took over. But remember that if you control, limit or close down social media then it means you are attacking free speech. It also means you are attacking free and independent media. It also means you are attacking freedom of assembly and the rest of our fundamental freedoms.
I am very worried, scared, concerned, angry and disturbed at the idea of controlling social media. This is the only marketplace where citizens have to express themselves hence participate, influence and determine the political life of their communities and country. If you close this space then it means popular participation, transparency and accountability are dead hence corruption, ineptitude, abuse and violations will go unnoticed and unchallenged.
If indeed the President’s concern was only about the insults spewed from mainly political opponents, then the President should be the first to address his supporters to stop insulting. NPP and Barrow supporters in general are among the leading insulters in the country. But the President has never stopped or suspended or expelled any supporter because of insults. Therefore it is false to claim that the President is concerned about insults on social media.
Therefore, all Gambians must now recognize that President Adama Barrow poses a clear and present danger to democracy and the peace and stability of the Republic. The President is the leading threat to human rights contrary to his oath of office and the Constitution.
Citizens must be ready to stop him. Let us not allow party politics, tribalism, indifference and other sectarian considerations make us ignore the national threat we face from none other than the President himself. This President wants to turn this country into a dictatorship. All citizens have a historic and constitutional right and duty to resist that. 100%.
Stand up against Tyranny! Defend Democracy.
For The Gambia #127468;#127474; Our Homeland |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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President Adama Barrow and his plan if elected.
