By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Parliamentary Reporters Association of The Gambia (PRAG), with support from the African Parliamentary Press Network, began a two-day capacity-building workshop on Wednesday for 20 parliamentary reporters. The training focuses on parliamentary transparency, oversight, budgeting, and constitutional matters to enhance transparency within the legislative body.
The initiative aims to equip journalists with the knowledge needed to promote accountability and provide insights into the legislative budgeting process.
Speaking at the event, Omar Bah, President of PRAG, underscored the significance of improving the skills of parliamentary reporters.
“For the first time the Parliamentary Reporters Association, is implementing training by ourselves after receiving funding from the African Parliamentary Press Network we want to thank them for the trust and recognition because this is a young association, and we assured them that the funds will be used for the purposes of which they were disbursed for,” he said.
He stressed that the National Assembly is a crucial institution in the country, as their lives and budgets are directly tied to its decisions. If they fail to hold the Assembly accountable and ensure it meets the expectations of the electorate, they are letting down those who rely on them.
“So it is high time we all take that responsibility to say look I can do better. And if you take that challenge to yourself, definitely you will do better in your reporting on parliamentary issues,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the training’s insights will be effectively applied in their parliamentary reporting.
Meanwhile, Muhammed S Bah, President of the Gambia Press Union, highlighted the training’s significance, emphasizing that a substantial portion of their reports originate from parliament.
When the sessions are on we report especially opinions from the National Assembly members, and we normally see that few parliamentarians are speaking on the floor these are reports that come, but do we really think from the other perspective? Because if someone is not even speaking, it means something. Someone who should speak, and you are not speaking then it means something you must have a standpoint you are either for or against and they why,” he said.
He encouraged the participants to make the most of the training, stressing that it should be more than just a formality and an opportunity to gain valuable knowledge.
Arret Jatta, a parliamentary reporter with the Voice newspaper, emphasized the necessity for parliamentary reporters to be well-versed in covering parliamentary issues.
“And I believe this training will provide just that. I am eager to learn from this training and also use the knowledge while reporting from now on. I urged my fellow participants to endeavor and participate in this training fully so that the knowledge gained from this training will be put to good use and will have an impact on our reporting from now on,” she said.
Mustapha Jarju, a parliamentary reporter with The Alkamba Times, shared their expectations for the ongoing capacity-building training.
“I anticipate gaining valuable insights into best practices for enhancing transparency in parliamentary processes, which is crucial for fostering public trust. The training will equip me with essential skills to effectively monitor and report on government actions, thereby improving accountability,” he said.
He highlighted that a thorough understanding of budgeting processes will allow him to critically analyze financial decisions, ensuring his coverage of parliamentary activities is both comprehensive and aligned with the public’s interests.
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