Newly elected President Adama Barrow officially took on Saturday the oath of office on the Gambian soil as the West African nation celebrated its 52nd independence anniversary.
Barrow was initially sworn in on January 19, 2017 at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, because his predecessor Yahya Jammeh had adamantly refused to hand over power after his defeat in the December 2016 presidential election.
The colourful inauguration of President Barrow at the Independence Stadium was witnessed by regional leaders, headed by the current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Gambia’s new Chief Justice Hassan Boubacarr Jallow administered the presidential oath before the capacity crowd at the stadium.
Regional leaders attending the ceremony included Senegalese President Macky Sall as special guest, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré of Burkina Faso, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, and Guinea-Bissau President José Mário Vaz.
Also in attendance were Nigerian Vice President Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, Sierra Leonean Vice President Victor Bockarie Foh and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Mr. Ma Peihua, as Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping.
Addressing the gathering in English, President Sall said Senegal and Gambia are one country, one people and share the same values. He emphasized that there is need for both countries to strengthen their relations and move on.
“What we need is peace, security and development to move and achieve our common goals. Democratic change in The Gambia is not only for The Gambia but also Senegal because democracy and development in The Gambia is also for Senegal,” he said.
He described the victory in The Gambia after the December 2016 presidential election as a democratic change for Gambia, Africa and the world.
Meanwhile, President Barrow said his election was a victory for Gambians, Africa and the world, as he commended ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations for supporting peaceful transition in The Gambia.
He pointed out that his government inherited a declining economy, which is a challenge for the government.
He vowed to review and reform all sectors of the government, and pledged to work in collaboration with ECOWAS, the AU and the United Nations for the reforms to be realized.
The president declared free six-year basic education in The Gambia and urged all Gambians to send their children to school.
Barrow also encouraged the private sector to collaborate with the government in building the new Gambia.
He said the media shall be free to operate and all the media laws under the former government would be reviewed to allow access to information as well as freedom of speech and expression.
President Barrow stated that his government would create job opportunities and provide jobs for Gambian youths to put an end to illegal migration.
“Human rights are the biggest agenda of my government. My government will set up a human rights commission and a commission of enquiry to investigate all human rights abuses,” he promised.
Photo credit: Coalition media team
