The Civic Scribe: Articles & Poems

The Gambia’s dramatic political transition in 2016 was more than a change of government; it was a collective sigh of relief from a nation that had held its breath for 22 years. It was a promise. A promise of a new dawn, of accountability, and of a democracy that would truly serve its people. Yet, for that promise to be fully realized, the engine of reform must extend beyond the executive branch and into the very heart of our lawmaking body: the National Assembly.

Today, a critical ingredient is missing from our legislative chamber: a critical mass of highly educated, policy-savvy representatives. The need for Gambians—both at home and in the diaspora—with advanced skills in law, economics, public policy, and development to step into the political arena has never been more urgent.

A cursory look at the composition of past and current assemblies reveals a stark reality. While there are certainly dedicated and well-intentioned individuals serving, the body is largely populated by members whose primary qualifications are local popularity, business success, or tribal allegiance, rather than a proven aptitude for dissecting complex legislation. This is not to disparage lived experience or local knowledge, which are invaluable. But governing a modern state in a globalized world requires a complementary set of skills that we are currently lacking.

The weaknesses born from this gap are evident and debilitating. Legislative debates often lack depth on the technical nuances of bills concerning public finance, digital governance, or international treaties. Without members who can rigorously critique government proposals, the executive branch often faces little substantive opposition, turning the assembly into a rubber-stamp institution rather than a robust check on power. How can we effectively oversee a national budget if few members can decipher its complex line items? How can we craft laws that attract sustainable investment if the intricacies of macroeconomic policy are not understood?

The result is legislation that is well-intentioned but often poorly conceived, riddled with loopholes, or unimplementable. It is a government that operates on a reactive, ad-hoc basis rather than being guided by a forward-thinking, evidence-based legislative agenda. This failure to institutionalize good governance through strong laws is the single greatest threat to consolidating our fragile democracy.

This is where the educated Gambian, both within and outside the country, bears a profound responsibility. For too long, many of our best and brightest have viewed politics as a dirty game, beneath their professional station. They have chosen to critique from the sidelines—in university common rooms, private sector boardrooms, and on social media—rather than entering the fray to fix it. This self-imposed exile must end.

The diaspora, in particular, holds a unique key. Gambians abroad have acquired world-class education and professional experience in the very fields our National Assembly desperately needs. They have seen effective governance in practice. They understand policy formulation, project management, and international best practices. Their return to the political stage, not as commentators but as contenders, would be a game-changer. They bring not just knowledge, but also a network of global connections and a perspective that transcends our local boundaries.

Of course, the critique will come: “They are out of touch with the realities of the common Gambian.” This is a fair concern that must be addressed with humility and action. A successful educated candidate cannot run on credentials alone. They must marry their technical expertise with grassroots empathy. They must listen more than they speak, translating complex policy into tangible benefits for their constituents—be it in better roads, improved clinics, or greater economic opportunity. They must prove that their education serves The Gambia, not their ego.

The upcoming electoral cycles are not just another political event. They are a calling. The future of Gambian democracy depends on our ability to build competent, credible, and capable institutions, and that begins with the National Assembly. It is time for a new generation of leaders to step forward. It is time for the PhDs, the lawyers, the economists, the development specialists, and the business strategists to offer themselves for service.

The battle for the soul of The Gambia was not won simply by changing a president. It is won every day through the difficult, unglamorous work of building institutions. Let us fill our National Assembly with minds capable of doing the building. Our democracy’s future depends on it.