By Makutu Manneh
Hamat N.K. Bah, Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs and leader of the National Reconciliation Party (NRP), has declared that his ambition to become President of The Gambia remains firm and cannot be curtailed, even as he pledged continued loyalty and support to President Adama Barrow ahead of the 2026 elections.
Speaking on Sunday at an NRP rally in Lumen, Mr. Bah said his aspiration for the presidency dates back to September 9, 1996, and remains “solid, firm, and unshakable.”
“My presidential ambition from the 9th of September 1996 remains solid and firm in me. My desire to be president is unshakable, and I am committed to that cause. I will not mortgage my ambition for anybody,” he said.
The NRP was a member of the 2016 opposition coalition that brought President Barrow to power, ending the 22-year rule of former President Yahya Jammeh. Since then, Mr. Bah has been a prominent figure in the Barrow administration, having served as Minister of Tourism and Culture before his current appointment as Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs.
Despite reiterating his long-standing presidential ambition, Mr. Bah emphasized his loyalty to President Barrow, whom he praised for demonstrating leadership marked by “honour, respect, and dignity.”
“President Barrow has shown me all the characteristics of good leadership; therefore, I cannot renege on my commitment to support his presidential ambition,” he said.
Mr. Bah further stressed that while supporting President Barrow, he would not allow his party or its members to be undermined within any coalition or political arrangement. He said cooperation must be grounded in mutual respect and recognition.
He pledged to defend the interests of his party and its supporters, noting that any political alliance must be based on partnership and reciprocity.
“What we have is working together, cooperation, and collaboration as two political entities moving in the interest of Adama Barrow to be president in 2026,” he said.
Mr. Bah added that the NRP remains grateful to President Barrow for fostering unity and cooperation among coalition partners, assuring him of the party’s “unshakable” loyalty as they work together toward the 2026 presidential election.
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