Africa-Press – Gambia. Mai Ahmed Fatty, leader and secretary general of the Gambia Moral Congress (GMC), has explained why he chose to back President Adama Barrow in the 2026 elections rather than pursue his own presidential ambitions.
Speaking in a recent interview with West Coast Radio, Mr. Fatty said he was impressed by President Barrow’s patience and exceptional listening skills, which he described as rare qualities in political leadership.
“I would admit that I have been preparing to become head of state well before President Barrow, in that my party had existed and I had aspirations of becoming president of The Gambia long before him, but I have also recognized that he has special skills,” Fatty said. “I have recognized his ability, I have recognized his teamwork abilities, and he has extraordinary tenacity for listening. It is very difficult for a lot of leaders to be patient and listen. The president will listen to you for one full hour; he will not interrupt you even once, even if you are speaking about something he hates to listen to. I have recognized this as a very rare skill, an ability in leaders, because most leaders don’t have that,” he stated.
The GMC leader revealed that as early as 2012, while he was in exile, he had encouraged Mr. Barrow to consider taking up leadership of the GMC because he believed Barrow had the potential to one day lead the country.
“In the year 2012, I contacted the president while I was in exile and had recommended to him to be the leader of the GMC as way back as in 2012, and I told him, I am out of the country, and it is very difficult for me to get involved in grassroots politics, what is called retail politics,” Fatty recalled. “Having known you as a friend and your abilities and being conscious of the fact that if you have the right environment around you, you could be a great leader, I want you to consider taking up the lease of the party. I will be outside to mobilize resources and funds and make you president,” he said.
Reflecting on Barrow’s presidency, Fatty admitted that the head of state faced challenges and mistakes during his early years in office, largely due to inexperience. However, he argued that Barrow has since matured politically and consolidated his position.
“He made a lot of missteps in the beginning due to inexperience and a lot of things, but today it is not the same Barrow 2016 we are looking at. He has succeeded politically in disintegrating a lot of political forces that we have marshaled against him. He is still here, and he will be here in 2026, inshaa’Allah,” he said.
Fatty further noted that no one can be fully prepared for the responsibilities of the presidency, regardless of their academic or political background.
“Well, you know nobody ever went to any classroom to learn how to become a president, even those who may be professors in political science and may theoretically be equipped with the skills and the knowledge of the highest office. But it is a different matter when you are there; when you sit down on that chair, you are now the chief executive of the state. It is a different ballgame; nothing ever prepares anybody adequately for such a huge responsibility,” he added.
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