The Program Manager of the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr. Ansumana Ceesay, has emphasized that democracy thrives when citizens are informed.
He made this statement on Saturday, 20th June 2026, at the Governor’s Office in Brikama, West Coast Region, during the launch of a nationwide campaign to deepen understanding of the Elections Act.
The civic and electoral sensitization program, held under the theme “Empowering Citizens, Strengthening Democracy Through Peacebuilding,” seeks to promote inclusivity and nationwide engagement.
“Democracy thrives when citizens are informed, engaged, and committed to resolving differences through dialogue rather than division,” Mr. Ceesay told the gathering.
He explained that the initiative reflects NCCE’s commitment to inclusivity and nationwide participation. The sessions aim to dispel misinformation, hate speech, and divisive narratives that threaten the integrity of democratic processes, while encouraging peaceful participation.
Mr. Ceesay reaffirmed the NCCE’s dedication to enlightening citizens about their civic rights and responsibilities. He stressed the importance of empowering marginalized groups, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities, to contribute meaningfully to credible and peaceful electoral participation ahead of the 2026 presidential election and beyond.
He noted that fostering dialogue across generations and communities will help build resilience, trust, and collaboration to safeguard democracy.
Encouraging stakeholders to actively engage in the initiative, he said:
“Let us work together to strengthen social cohesion, promote peaceful coexistence, protect the rights of all citizens, and ensure that our electoral processes remain peaceful, credible, and inclusive.”
Mr. Ceesay highlighted that peaceful elections are not the responsibility of institutions alone, but require the active involvement of citizens, political actors, community leaders, women, youth, media practitioners, and civil society organizations.
He underscored that building democratic resilience demands collective responsibility, continuous dialogue, and a shared commitment to upholding the rule of law and democratic values.
The Program Manager also expressed gratitude to development partners, particularly the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under its Inclusive Support for Participation, Integrity, and Resilient Elections (INSPIRE) initiative.
“Your support and partnership have been invaluable in making this program possible and in strengthening the foundations of our democracy,” he said.
He urged participants to approach the session with open minds and a shared commitment to building a democracy rooted in peace, trust, and inclusivity.
“Together, we can ensure that our electoral processes remain a source of unity and progress for our nation,” he concluded.
A total of 450 participants will be drawn from five regions of The Gambia—Upper River Region (URR), Central River Region (CRR), North Bank Region (NBR), Lower River Region (LRR), and West Coast Region (WCR).
These participants will include local and traditional authorities, youth leaders, women representatives, persons with disabilities, civil society organizations, religious leaders, influencers, government officials, and ward councilors from the respective regions.
