The Gambia Committee on Harmful Traditional Practices (Gamcotrap), last Thursday organised a two day workshop on women’s political participation in The Gambia.

The workshop which brought together a cross-section of women all over the country was aimed at increasing the position of women in the National Assembly and local government portfolios, to enable them contribute more effectively to the socio-economic development of the nation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Hon Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang, former nominated member of the National Assembly, said that she will endeavour to help Gambian women to take their rightful positions in the decision making process. She added that, women have done a lot for the nation and have also registered lots of success in the political arena.

Mrs. Sanneh-Bojang noted that women need to mainstream with men, so that they can be given more chances to contest in the local government elections. She added that President Yahya Jammeh’s government has given women the chance to involve in politics noting that this has been clearly manifested in recent times.

The first elected female National Assembly in the Gambia member further asserted that there is need for unity among women and they should forget the differences between themselves. She urged them to strive hard in order to achieve their goals citing herself as an example she has being in politics since the early 1970s.

Dilating on the gender dimension of politics in The Gambia, Mrs Sanneh-Bojang emphasised the need for women to vote for their colleagues who aspires for National Assembly and Local Government positions. She noted that the involvement of Gambia women in the political arena will greatly enhance the rapid socio-economic development of the nation.

She then urged the women to be confident, committed and have the faith in politics. She then thanked President Jammeh, the Gambian leader for empowering Gambian women.