By Sainabou Drammeh
The project seeks to promote media freedom and freedom of expression by amplifying the sensitization activities of the CSO coalition on Access to Information. In addition, in a bid to strengthen the capacity of Gambian journalists, the support covers tuition costs for some MAJAC students.
The signing ceremony took place at Baobab hotel on thursday November 26th 2020, during a one-day national forum on Access to Information organized for civil society organizations in The Gambia.
Speaking at the event, the chairman of the civil society coalition on ATI John Charles Njie, commended the Gambia Press Union for effectively coordinating the activities of the ATI process, from the development of the draft bill to sensitizing the general public on the importance of the bill.
He thanked the British High Commission for supporting the activities of the CSO coalition noting that there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of getting the bill passed and implementing the law.
Saikou Jammeh, Secretary General of the Gambia Press Union expressed gratitude to the British High Commission for complimenting the efforts of the GPU in ensuring a vibrant and well-trained media in The Gambia.
“If we are going to build the democracy we need, the building block we need is Media Freedom, Freedom of Expression and Access to Information” he said.
The British High Commissioner David O. Belgrove said an ATI act is a fundamental right that enables citizens to seek and scrutinize decisions made on their behalf by public officials. He said the journalists and civil society should be given access to information citing that investigative journalism is essential for a healthy democracy.
The ceremony was attended by over 30 CSO members and the media community in the Gambia.
