Gambia Democratic Congress leader Mama Kandeh has explained that his decision to form an alliance with President Adama Barrow was guided by national interest and a desire to improve the lives of Gambians.
Speaking at State House on Wednesday during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the GDC and the National People’s Party, Kandeh said his loyalty had always been to The Gambia rather than to political rivalry.
“Our mission has never been opposition for the sake of opposition. Our mission has always been service to our country and people,” Kandeh told supporters and officials attending the ceremony.
He argued that responsible leaders must be willing to cooperate when such cooperation could create employment for young people, expand opportunities for farmers and improve healthcare and education. He also said unity could help strengthen democratic institutions, national security and economic development.
Kandeh rejected suggestions that the agreement represented political weakness or a betrayal of the principles upon which the GDC was established. He described the alliance as an act of political maturity and statesmanship, insisting that the country’s future should be placed above partisan competition and personal ambition.
The GDC leader clarified that his party had entered an alliance with the NPP but had not dissolved into or joined the ruling party. He assured supporters that the GDC would retain its identity and continue promoting accountability, transparency and national development.
Kandeh told President Barrow that the GDC had not come merely to celebrate or benefit from government. He said the party had joined the alliance to work and urged members of both political organisations to intensify their mobilisation ahead of the December presidential election.
Responding to critics, Kandeh maintained that every Gambian had the right to decide where they belonged politically. He dismissed the insults directed at him and called on supporters to avoid personal attacks, stressing that Gambian politics should focus on policies, development and citizens’ welfare.
