By Yankuba Jallow
Team Gambia Grand Coalition coordinator Sidia Jatta said poverty and injustice have increased in The Gambia despite decades of promises by successive governments to tackle them.
Speaking at a press conference on 19 October 2026, Honourable Jatta said the coalition’s campaign team had completed its second tour of the country, where it held public awareness activities.
“Our challenge is that the first speaker talked about starting afresh, giving a new start to the Gambia in an open-minded way and a new commitment to make a difference from 61 years of endeavour to liberate this country,” he said.
“What is the challenge here in this world as well as elsewhere in the country? Freeing this country from the fetters of evil, of injustice.”
Jatta said the task of addressing the country’s problems belonged to all citizens, not only those commonly called politicians.
“It is not the responsibility of only what people you call politicians, a term I don’t agree with, but I use it. It is the responsibility of every citizen of Haiti who has a vote and who has a right to say what is good for this country and what is not good for this country. Who has a right to be given responsibility to take charge of the affairs of this country,” he said.
The coalition brings together political parties, political movements and individual Gambians who have signed an agreement to contest the December 2026 presidential election.
Hon. Jatta called on citizens to reconsider the country’s direction. He said governments over the past 61 years had pledged to tackle poverty, ignorance and injustice.
“All the governments that have been in place for the last 61 years have supposedly committed themselves to freeing this country from poverty, freeing this country from ignorance, freeing this country from injustice,” he said.
“But what we have seen is that instead of that freedom, poverty has increased and is always on the increase. Injustice also has increased and is also on the increase.”
Hon. Jatta said he hoped citizens would have the time and opportunity to address the country’s problems.
“Without taking too much time, I pray that we all live long enough to be able to address the problems of this country in the way they should be addressed in order for us to become free once and for all.”
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