Africa-Press – Gambia. The Center for Policy, Research, and Strategic Studies (CepRass), in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), has officially launched a new initiative aimed at evaluating and enhancing The Gambia’s democratic and governance systems.
The initiative, titled “Assessing and Strengthening Democracy in The Gambia: Building a Representative and Accountable Government,” will conduct a comprehensive review of the country’s democratic processes and governance structures. It also seeks to advocate for reforms that foster inclusivity, transparency, and accountability within public institutions.
At the launch, Project Manager Lamin Dampha underscored CepRass’s commitment to evidence-based policy research. He stated that the organization not only collects data but also translates research findings into actionable insights to empower citizens, inform government policies, and strengthen democratic accountability.
Dampha added that the project aims to produce practical evidence to guide reforms, fortify governance institutions, and promote transparency and inclusive participation across political and administrative systems.
“Democracy is a journey, not a destination. With the right partnership, credible data, and collective will, The Gambia can continue to build a system that is truly representative and accountable to its people,” Dampha noted.
Also addressing the event, Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, Minister of Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services, welcomed research initiatives that support policy dialogue, promote learning, and enhance democratic governance. He emphasized that building and sustaining democracy is a shared responsibility, requiring the active involvement of state institutions, political actors, the media, civil society, and citizens.
Minister Ceesay commended CepRass and NED for their collaboration on this “timely and critical initiative” and encouraged stakeholders to leverage the findings to advance inclusive governance and citizen participation.
Tabu Njie Sarr, Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, described the project as a significant milestone in The Gambia’s democratic development. She highlighted that the initiative’s objectives have the potential to generate evidence-based insights that inform policies, strengthen institutions, and increase public engagement in governance.
“Citizen engagement is very vital in a functioning democracy and measuring good governance. Therefore, participation of stakeholders, especially civil society, academia, and media, are indicators that measure democratic levels of a country,” she added.
Founded in 2016 by faculty members of the University of The Gambia’s School of Business and Public Administration, CepRass supports the university’s mission to advance high-quality research and provide professional consultancy services. It operates as an independent, non-profit research institution, governed by a constituted board selected from among its members.
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