Banjul’s challenges among how to engage, empower & developmental process

By Pa Modou Cham

Mayoress of Banjul Rohey Lowe has revealed that one of the greatest challenges they face as a City, is to decide how they engage with, and empower youths and women in the developmental process.

Mayoress was speaking on Thursday in a press briefing after staying 100 days in office.

“As I campaigned throughout the City, and talked to many Banjulians, young and old, many expressed the need to give to the youths the chance to benefit from good educational opportunities to acquire skills that will help them get a job in what should be a booming economy in constant process of transformation,” she said.

She added every project and agreement made by the City, at least 20% of the jobs will go towards the young people of Banjul. She said with the construction of the container terminal, the city has entered, under her leadership; into an agreement, which 20% of the jobs created by that construction will be reserved for Banjulians youths.

 “This should bring in an estimated 200 jobs for the youths in our City. While I believed in the importance of employing our youths, it is equally important that we also invest in their educational future, which gives them the skills necessary for their development and the realization of their dreams”.

She lamented that she represent the dreams and hopes of many girls and women in this country. She said this gives her the courage to fight for the betterment of all Banjulians especially women and girls, who have often been left behind when development projects have been designed. 

“To help remedy this situation, in consultation with the Banjul women, I created the Women and Girls Empowerment Initiative putting my own resources as seed money, this is a program geared towards helping women become more economically self-sufficient,” she pointed.