Yakumba Jaiteh Says UDP Government Would Reserve at Least 30% of Cabinet Posts for Women

By Seedy Jobe

Yakumba Jaiteh, the United Democratic Party’s deputy senior administrative secretary and a member of its Policy and Legal Committee, says a UDP government would ensure that women hold at least 30 percent of cabinet positions as part of a broader effort to increase women’s representation in political leadership.

Speaking on QTV’s Decision program, Jaiteh said the commitment was not merely a campaign promise but part of a party policy adopted at the UDP’s congress in 2018/2019. She said the party was already working to reflect that policy within its leadership structures.

According to Jaiteh, women account for 43 percent of the UDP’s 37 elected executive members and 63.6 percent of the 11 executive members nominated by the party leader. Overall, she said, women make up 35 percent of the party’s national executive.

Jaiteh also pointed to recent internal elections in which women contested senior positions, including deputy campaign manager and deputy organizing secretary, developments she described as significant advances for women in Gambian politics.

Asked whether the party’s commitment to greater representation would extend to a UDP cabinet, Jaiteh said a government led by the party’s presidential candidate, ANM Ousainu Darboe, would be expected to abide by the resolution.

“So, a UDP government definitely would adhere to this resolution of the party and would ensure at least 30% of the cabinet would be women,” she said.

Jaiteh contrasted the UDP’s policy with the current level of female representation under President Adama Barrow, criticizing the government for having only three women serving as ministers. She also pointed to the limited number of women in the National Assembly, arguing that the president could have used his five nominated seats to increase female representation.

Beyond cabinet appointments, Jaiteh said women within the UDP would advocate for the appointment of a female vice president. She argued that with men historically dominating the presidency and senior political leadership, selecting a woman as vice president would be an important step toward greater gender balance.

Although the party’s formal policy sets a minimum 30 percent threshold for women in the cabinet, Jaiteh said female leaders within the UDP would push for the vice presidency to form part of that commitment.

On how the party would ensure the pledge is honored if it comes to power, Jaiteh said the commitment is embedded in UDP policies and resolutions and expressed confidence that Darboe would respect them.

“He is a lawyer. He knows the commitment of the party. He knows the existence of the policy. And he respects the law; we all know that. We’ll follow suit,” she said.

Jaiteh also encouraged Gambian women, particularly educated professionals, to become more involved in politics and seek elected office. She said political parties have a responsibility to provide opportunities for women, but voters also have a role to play in electing them.