By Fatou Sillah
Nenneh Cheyassin Kebe, the vice-presidential candidate of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), has called for a shift in leadership in The Gambia, urging the selection of more educated and competent officials with demonstrable records of achievement.
Speaking in an interview with West Coast Radio, Nenneh Cheyassin Kebe emphasized the need for what she described as “21st-century thinking” in governance. She argued that public officials should possess not only formal education but also the ability to represent the country effectively on the global stage.
“We need people that are educated,” she said. “You need someone that knows what they are talking about, someone that represents Gambia and is not embarrassed when they open their mouth to talk.”
“We need people that are educated; we need 21st-century thinking,” she said. “You need someone that knows what they are talking about, someone that represents Gambia and is not embarrassed when they open their mouth to talk.”
Ms. Kebe underscored what she characterized as basic standards for leadership, noting that competence in fundamental skills should be a prerequisite for holding public office.
“You need someone that can competently read before they sign,” she said. “These are basic things that we as Gambians have taken for granted.”
She also criticized what she described as systemic weaknesses in the country’s leadership, arguing that positions of authority should be filled by individuals with stronger qualifications and broader expertise. “We have incompetent leaders; we need people that are more educated than us, we need people that know better than us,” she said.
Framing her remarks around accountability and merit, Ms. Kebe said leadership should be grounded in proven success rather than personal ambition. She added that public office should not be used as a pathway for personal gain.
“We need people that have a proven track record of wealth,” she said. “Gambia needs to stop hiring people that need to build a house for their mother, their cousin, or their aunt before they build a house for a Gambian.”
Ms. Kebe said the PPP would welcome scrutiny if elected, pledging transparency and accountability in governance, including disclosure of assets by public officials.
“We are not here because we want to make money, and if we come into power, everybody will be held accountable because we have no problems showing our assets before we take office,” she said.
She added that ensuring both competence and accountability among those in power would be central to the party’s agenda.
“We want to make sure that those that are in positions of power are not only competent but are also held accountable and that they actually do the job,” she said.
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