The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Hatab Fadera
3 July 2009
The formation of the proposed Gambia National Women Federation is at an advanced stage, following the drafting of the constitution of the federation, and a successful completion of a weeklong massive sensitisation of women across the length and breadth of the country.
Spearheaded by the National Women Council and the Women's Bureau, under the leadership of Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, the vice president and minister for Women's Affairs, the initiation of the proposed federation is said to have been the idea of the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.
The main objective of the initiative is to bring together all Gambian women under one umbrella with a view to addressing their needs collectively. Speaking at the last sensitisation forum in Banjul, Fatou Sey, program officer of the Women's Bureau, said their move is in response to the advice given to them by the president of the Republic a few years ago, as part of activities marking their silver jubilee celebrations. "The national constitution of the federation has been drafted, the lawyers are looking at it and we hope to validate it on the 16th of July. We want to sensitise every woman about the federation, and that is why we embarked on a nation-wide sensitisation in all regions of the country," said the Women's Bureau program officer.
Madam Sey reiterated that every Gambian woman is part and parcel of the federation irrespective of their station. She delved into the important role this proposed national federation will have on Gambian women, maintaining that unity will also be greatly promoted. She disclosed that the federation will incorporate all the income-earning ventures that Gambian women engage in for their upkeep so as to improve their lives.
For her part, Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay, former speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia, who also spoke at the Banjul sensitisation, reiterated that the president had asked the women to form a national federation with a view to addresing their needs collectively. According to her, the proposed federation is all-inclusive.
Jahumpa-Ceesay went on to say that it is high time that the citizens, particularly the women, reciprocate the assistance of the president, noting that women have not been left out in any sphere of development thanks to the president's women empowerment objective. She described President Jammeh as a champion of women's empowerment and rights, making reference to his appointment of women in top government positions. " Therefore, we should now reciprocate what he has done for us. Each and every woman of the country should contribute to our federation," the former speaker underscored.
Madam FJC spoke at length about the developments registered by the president, and went on to assure him of their unshakable loyalty and commitment at all time. The chairperson of the National Women Council, Fatou Mbaye, who is also the director of the Gambia Technical Training Institute, gave an overview of the formation of the federation.
The mayor of Banjul City Council, Samba Faal, who presided over the ceremony, hailed the women for their move.
2009 women solidarity march past. In a separate development, the National Women Council and the Women's Bureau are bracing up for a landmark solidarity march past scheduled for Friday, 17th July, 2009. The march past is said to be inline with the fulfilment of the promise made to the Gambian leader by the women to renew their unshakable loyalty to him every five years through the organisation of a solidarity march past. The event is expected to attract women from all corners of the country.
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