EFSCRJ declares 2025 year of Transparency and Accountability

By Sheriff Saidykhan

The Edward Francis Small Center for Rights and Justice (EFSCRJ) has declared that 2025 to be year of Transparency and Accountability in the country.

“We declare 2025 the year of Transparency and Accountability”.

In a new year message posted on social media platforms, the rights center recognizes the giant strides registered in the country since former President Jammeh was voted out.

As we come to the end of the Year 2024, we wish to recognize the strides that have been registered in our country over the year. This year marks eight years since we voted out the Yaya Jammeh Tyranny and with the support of ECOWAS were able to remove him physically from power. Since then, until today, we recognize the steadfastness of our citizens in defending democracy and human rights. We appreciate the resolve of our media and civil society to hold the Government accountable. We wish to echo the fact that the building and strengthening of democracy is a national imperative which falls squarely in the hands of all citizens as the sovereign power and owners of this country.” the release said.

The center lamented the slow progress of the transitional justice process and the low political will to consolidate democracy and good governance in the country.

“The State, especially the Executive and the Legislature have not demonstrated adequate will and commitment to upholding the Constitution. This is a major challenge that has weakened the effective protection and fulfilment of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of citizens.”the release stated.

The center added that the past years have been disturbed by a number of challenges, including the increasing incidence of public sector corruption, inefficiency and abuse of office for which there is limited accountability remains a major challenge to democracy, peace and stability.

“While the civic space remains largely open and free, we note with concern frequent infringements on civil and political rights through arbitrary arrests, detention and trumped up charges against journalists, politicians, activists and other citizens.” the release added.

The blatant mismanagement of the environment through illegal allocations, de-gazetting and encroachment, the center said it is a matter of immense econcerns.

The center further decried the perennial poor service delivery, and the gross misuse of public wealth on events, ceremonies, travel and purchase of vehicles among others.

“These ills have therefore resulted in aggravated and widespread poverty, deprivation, high unemployment, high cost of living, and inadequate opportunities.” according to the release.

The release added: “Contrary to official narratives that the dire socio-economic conditions are due to external factors, we hold that these ills rather expose the weak adherence to the rule of law and lack of transparency and accountability in the public sector. This is a manifestation of a greater national malaise which is the leadership deficiency across the Government. The lack of political will to uphold and abide by the law is grossly weakening institutions and undermining our governance systems which has turned politics and public office into a place for self-aggrandizement to the detriment of the public.”.