Africa-Press – Gambia. The two-day Sahel Governance Forum, which convened government officials, regional organizations, civil society representatives, and development partners in Banjul, has concluded with a resounding call for enhanced governance across the Sahel region.
Delegates stressed the urgency of reinforcing principles of good governance, accountability, discipline, and results-oriented leadership to address the region’s pressing challenges.
The forum also marked the official launch of a landmark report titled “The Future of Governance in the Sahel: Rebuilding Social Cohesion and Public Trust”, which outlines both the challenges and opportunities shaping the region’s governance landscape.
In his closing remarks, Gambia’s Vice President, Mohammed B.S. Jallow, urged stakeholders to sustain the momentum generated by the forum, emphasizing the need for continued collaboration and collective action beyond the event. He reaffirmed The Gambia’s commitment to people-centered leadership, inclusive governance, and sustainable development through its Green Recovery–focused National Development Plan (2023–2027).
Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, identified governance as Africa’s most pressing challenge. He observed that governance systems admired in developed nations are built on accountability, discipline, and measurable outcomes.
He further stressed that regional integration can support member states by embedding governance principles into national and regional practices, ensuring they become a central factor in decision-making and development efforts.
“That does not mean we focus only on elections, but we focus on results, delivering results for the people, and you cannot deliver results for the people if there is no sense of accountability and discipline,” he stated.
He added that patriotism, in its truest form, is rooted in these same values and called on regional organizations to keep governance at the core of their agendas. “The whole notion of patriotism is more about accountability and discipline. So I think the roles that the regional organizations have been playing and should continue to play is to mainstream governance and to make sure governance stays at the center of what we are doing,” he said.
Also addressing the forum, the UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Regional Bureau, Ahunna Eziakonwa, underscored that the real work begins after the dialogue. She urged leaders to build economies that serve all citizens, not just a privileged few, and to govern with integrity in order to restore hope and confidence among their people.
“The future we seek will not be delivered by chance. It must be designed by leadership that listens, cares, and is ready to serve by systems that have integrity and by people that are empowered to shape their own destinies.”
Over the two days, participants engaged in in-depth discussions on the Sahel’s governance and security challenges, exploring innovative solutions aimed at building a more resilient, inclusive, and better-governed region.
For More News And Analysis About Gambia Follow Africa-Press
