Head of Programme, OSPG speaking at the launch
By Landing Ceesay
The Open Society of the Gambia (OSPG), an anti-corruption organisation has earlier Friday launched its maiden Newsletter.
The newsletter contains OSPG and CSO partners, while highlighting media coverage of the Presidential Elections, asset declaration, the TRRC, transparency, accountability and fighting corruption in the Gambia.
Speaking at the ceremony, Abdoulie Jadama, Head of Programme, OSPG said the initiative is aimed at increasing awareness as well as mobilising large consequences for the population.
“The launching of this newsletter is all about how do we create and raise awareness. This particular subject is all about how do we fight corruption. You cannot fight corruption while you don’t enhance transparency, accountability and integrity. All of these are around that. How do we enhance public awareness against the subject of fighting corruption, as well as enhancing transparency in turn to create a responsive state?.
“Sadly, in this country, corruption has become an endemic issue now. It is part of us; it is taking the social fabric of our society. Just yesterday, Transparency International released its annual transparency and corruption index. The Gambia remains on the same spot, we moved from 96 from 2019, with 96 points. In 2020, we were at 102 points, and last year 2021, we are still at the same points. This means that with all the investment, nothing has happened. That is too sad and too bad,” he said.
Mr. Jadama added that there is an Anti-corruption bill lying at the National Assembly since December 2019, but it is still not enacted.
“We have nothing to tell our children why that happened. Because it is better to invest that money somewhere rather than to invest around to see that people are aware of corruption. This is exacerbated by the fact that Gambia doesn’t have any legal instrument to fight corruption,” he said.
The launch ceremony took place on Friday at the TANGO conference hall.
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