By Makutu Manneh
Omar Bah, News Editor at The Standard Newspaper, has clarified that journalists in The Gambia are not opposed to regulation but are resisting proposals that would place oversight under a government-controlled body whose leadership is appointed and dismissed by the president.
Bah said the Minister of Information, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, misrepresented the position of the Gambia Press Union (GPU) during a recent press conference by suggesting that journalists intended to boycott the government.
According to Bah, the GPU’s position is limited to boycotting activities organized by the Ministry of Information, not the government as a whole. He emphasized that the central point of contention is the ministry’s proposal to mandate the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) to regulate the media.
Speaking in an interview on Bitilo, Bah responded to remarks by Minister Ceesay calling for dialogue with the GPU, warning that without engagement, consensus would be difficult to achieve.
“I think the minister is being a little bit manipulative here,” Mr. Bah said. “GPU did not refuse to dialogue with him; he knows what GPU told him, and he is just trying to bring a misunderstanding between the journalist and the people.”
Bah further noted that key aspects of the proposed regulatory framework remain unclear, particularly regarding the roles of the Ministry of Information and PURA.
He reiterated that the GPU supports media regulation but insists it must be conducted through an independent body, such as a media council, similar to regulatory frameworks governing the legal and medical professions.
Addressing concerns about the media council’s lack of legal authority, Bah said the GPU has acknowledged this limitation and proposed that the government strengthen the council through legislation passed by the National Assembly.
He added that journalists recognize existing challenges within the media landscape that require oversight, but stressed that any regulatory mechanism must safeguard independence and credibility.
“Journalists played a crucial role in building the country’s democracy and will not allow those freedoms to be undermined,” Bah said.
He concluded by reaffirming the GPU’s position: “The GPU’s stand is clear: they will not dialogue with the minister regarding the PURA regulation. If the minister wants a dialogue, let him put something on the table regarding the media council. We all want a regulated media to move ahead to have a responsible media. That is in the interest of all of us.”
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