By Bakary Touray Jr.
The interim leader of the Gambia’s newest registered political grouping named All People’s Party (APP), Dr. Gumbo Ali Touray, has said that his party believes in genuine democracy, rule of law, responsible government and transparency.
The new political player made the statement on Friday, 17th January 2020, while receiving the APP’s Certificate of Registration from the country’s electoral body at the Election House in Kanifing Industrial Area.
Dr. Touray explained that the formation of APP came as result of a normal discussion session held in Sinchu Village, during which residents lamented their perennial problems such as increasing poverty, inadequate healthcare services, deplorable environmental conditions and poor infrastructure.
The APP chief recalled: “A decision was reached to form an organized group called a Task Force for Better Gambia, which gradually became an NGO and finally becoming the All People’s Party, being accorded Certificate of Registration today”.
Dr. Touray said that the philosophy of APP is people centered and ownership, which is dedicated to the people of the Gambia as a nation, and further indicated that permanent leadership and Standard-bearer of the APP will be decided and selected at its national congress.
“Our mission is to participate in the political activities of this nation, as we recognize our constitutional rights to form and run a political party. And we seek no confrontation, but to show and indeed shared respect and understanding among all the existing political parties, in the interest of national development and social progress,” the new political leader remarked.
He further disclosed that their aim is to revamp the national economy, with emphasize on the key tenets of development, including education, health, agriculture, tourism, and particularly youth employment.
“We shall also give national security an important consideration,” Dr. Touray vowed. He also said the APP Manifesto embraces its goal and principles, as well as policies on domestic economy, global foreign, agriculture, education, environment and climate change, old and differently-abled, youth and women.
The head of Gambia’s electoral body, Chairman Alieu Momar Njie, intimated to the APP leadership that elections are conducted on the basis of free, fair and transparent process.
He advised the APP Party to act within the confines of the electoral act and the constitution, so as to hold its political activities in a peaceful atmosphere, which, the IEC Chairman said would help in maintaining the peaceful nature of The Gambia.
