It is nice to see the good work being done towards the empowerment of women in The Gambia recognised by our neighbours in ECOWAS. The ECOWAS parliamentary delegation, led by Hon. Dr. Fatoumata Hassan fourth deputy speaker of the ECOWAS parliament, is currently in the country on a week-long de-localised meeting as part of proceedings of the ECOWAS Parliament.

The delegation is the ECOWAS Parliament’s Committee on Gender, Employment, Labour and Social Welfare.

Speaking at a courtesy call paid to the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, yesterday Hon Dr. Hassan described The Gambia as a star of what West Africa should be.

“Looking at the process being undertaken by the government to curb and terminate discrimination against women, one can vividly say that The Gambia is a role model to West Africa and a good one to follow”, she said.

This is high praise from our esteemed neighbours and we should be justifiably proud. The inclusion of women in the constitution of The Gambia is a great move for human rights and there should be more like it. Of course as we are willing to accept this high praise from ECOWAS we must also accept our scolding. 

"One is not born a woman: one becomes a woman.”

Simon de Beauvoir