The National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) has concluded a two-day capacity-building training for media practitioners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
Held in Wassu, CRR North, the sessions formed part of the council’s ongoing efforts to equip the media and relevant stakeholders with the requisite skills to report fairly and accurately, in its drive to ensure a peaceful electoral cycle, with key focus on the December 5th, 2026 Presidential Election.
The session brought together media practitioners from both traditional and new media, alongside representatives of CSOs and CBOs, to strengthen their understanding of their important role in promoting peaceful and responsible elections before, during, and after the electoral process.
The thematic areas of discussion and topics included responsible communication—ensuring that information shared with the public is accurate, balanced, and ethical; digital responsibility—recognizing the influence of social media and the need to counter misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech; community engagement—using trusted local voices and platforms to reach citizens with relevant civic information; and peaceful participation—aimed at promoting political tolerance, respectful dialogue, and social cohesion as the country approaches the December 5th, 2026 Presidential Election.
For participants, the training provided practical knowledge and skills that they can take back to their schools, workplaces, and communities.
Yerro Kandeh of Njorren Basic Cycle Press Club highlighted how the training will strengthen civic education and communication within his school.
“This training will serve as a capacity-building opportunity for our school. It has trained us on how to sensitize people in our surroundings. Since we are a school, this training will enhance how we broadcast at the school level and strengthen our civic role,” he said.
Saikou M. Fatty, a social media influencer, noted that fact-checking and ethical journalism were among the key lessons from the training.
He stated: “Two fascinating areas have captured me, and I will use them in my work. One is the fact-checking mechanism. I wasn’t able to do that before, but after this training, I will be able to fact-check information before sharing it.”
He added that his second fascination is with the ethics of responsible journalism, such as receiving gifts from political parties and the like. “Learning about the Cherno Jallow Charter of Ethics has enhanced my capacity to understand what is expected of us, especially since we are not trained journalists.”
The reflections from Wassu also demonstrated the importance of equipping those who inform, influence, and engage communities with the knowledge to communicate responsibly, verify information, and contribute to peaceful democratic participation.
“Through this initiative, NCCE aims to empower media, CSOs, and CBOs as strategic partners in civic education, ensuring that both traditional and digital platforms foster informed, responsible, and peaceful participation throughout the electoral cycle,” said NCCE.
As The Gambia moves closer to the December 5th, 2026 Presidential Election, the council remains committed to “empowering those who inform, engage, and influence communities to become responsible partners in building a peaceful and resilient democracy.”
