Information Minister Ceesay Says Barrow Alliance Should ‘Strike Fear’ in Opponents

By Makutu Manneh

Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, the Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, says the political alliance backing President Adama Barrow should “strike fear” in its opponents, citing the coalition’s accumulated experience in both government and opposition politics.

Speaking in an interview on West Coast Radio, Dr. Ceesay said the alliance supporting President Barrow ahead of the December presidential election brings together about nine or 10 political parties with decades of political experience.

“If you take 22 years of PPP, 10 years of NPP, and 22 years of APRC, that’s 54 years of experience in power in this alliance,” he said.

When it was put to him that the APRC’s 22 years in government might be viewed as a period the country would rather not celebrate, Dr. Ceesay acknowledged the criticism but argued that the former ruling party also had achievements during its time in office.

He said some positive developments occurred under the APRC government, although, in his assessment, its shortcomings may have overshadowed those achievements.

Dr. Ceesay also pointed to what he described as the alliance’s extensive experience in opposition politics. He cited parties including the NCP, GDC, CA, GMC, and NRP, as well as politician Essa Faal, saying their collective experience in opposition amounted to nearly 50 years.

He described President Barrow’s alliance as “very dynamic,” arguing that its composition brings together political figures and parties with experience from different sides of Gambian politics.

Dr. Ceesay added that a political movement led by Sidat Yaffa had recently joined the alliance, making it the first movement, rather than a political party, to become part of the coalition.