By Seedy Jobe
Dr. Isatou Touray on Saturday unveiled a sweeping policy agenda that places constitutional reform, economic opportunity, energy development, and governance at the center of her campaign, telling supporters that The Gambia needs “progress, not promises.”
Speaking at the launch of her presidential candidacy in Brikama, West Coast Region, the former vice president pledged to pursue an inclusive process to adopt a new constitution, arguing that the country must complete its transition to what she described as a Third Republic.
“The constitution must belong to the people,” Dr. Touray said, adding that it should safeguard democracy rather than concentrate power in the hands of a few.
She said restoring public confidence in government would require leadership rooted in integrity, transparency, and public service. Her administration, she said, would base appointments on merit and competence, strengthen oversight institutions, and ensure that public resources are managed in the national interest.
“Strong institutions, not strong individuals, are the foundation of democracy,” she told supporters.
Education featured prominently in Dr. Touray’s address. She described it as the country’s most important long-term investment and promised reforms aimed at expanding literacy, strengthening science and technology education, improving digital learning, and modernizing technical and vocational training.
She also pledged greater support for teachers, improvements to school infrastructure, and expanded educational opportunities for disadvantaged children, saying no Gambian should be denied an education because of poverty, disability, gender, or geography.
On the economy, Dr. Touray said many young Gambians continue to seek opportunities abroad because of limited prospects at home. She pledged to prioritize job creation through entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic diversification while expanding support for small businesses and investment in productive sectors.
She also identified energy as a critical driver of national development, saying unreliable electricity and high costs remain major obstacles to economic growth.
Her proposed energy agenda includes expanding access to affordable and reliable electricity, strengthening energy infrastructure and institutions, accelerating investment in solar power and rural electrification, and training young people for employment in the renewable energy sector.
In agriculture, Dr. Touray pledged to modernize the sector through expanded irrigation, stronger farmer cooperatives, improved storage and processing facilities, and better access to markets. She said her goal is to move beyond subsistence farming toward value-added agricultural production that creates jobs and strengthens food security.
She also called for greater representation of women in leadership and decision-making, promising stronger legal protections for women and girls and expanded support for women-owned businesses.
In the health sector, Dr. Touray pledged increased investment in healthcare infrastructure, medical personnel, essential medicines, and community-based services. She also promised to elevate mental health as a national priority alongside physical healthcare.
Addressing security, she called for long-awaited reforms aimed at improving professionalism within the security services and rebuilding public confidence, while reaffirming support for justice and reconciliation initiatives for victims of past abuses.
“There is no Third Republic, technically, because we are still dilly-dallying,” she said. “A great deal of resources and effort has gone into establishing a Third Republic, but there have been refusals and subtle resistance because it serves the interests of a few. Together we can power national transformation through education, innovation, and sustainable energy. Together we can build The Gambia’s Third Republic.”
Dr. Touray also appealed to Gambians living abroad to remain actively engaged in national affairs, describing the diaspora as an integral part of the country’s development. She urged them to participate in the electoral process and help shape the nation’s future.
“Today I invite every Gambian—young and old, women and men, rural and urban, at home and across the diaspora—to join this national movement,” she said. “Together we can strengthen our democracy. Together, we can create opportunities for our young people. Together we can build an economy that works for ordinary families.”
Closing her address, Dr. Touray said the forthcoming election should be viewed as a choice about the country’s future rather than a contest of personalities.
“This election is not about personalities or divisions,” she said. “It is about choosing integrity, competence, and service. Together, we can build The Gambia’s Third Republic. Progress, not promises. People first, country first. Together we will deliver.”
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