Paradigm Initiative hosted an Internet Policy Training for stakeholders in The Gambia from Tuesday, July 11 to Thursday, July 13, 2017.
The training, supported by the Gambian Press Union, held over three days at the Djembe Hotel, Banjul, and was attended by a variety of participants.
The Civil Society, Media, Government, as well as the Gambian Internet Society were all represented at the training.
According to Adeboye Adegoke, Program Manager, Paradigm Initiative, “we are excited by the enthusiasm demonstrated by the participants not just in discussing policy issues but also at committing to participating in policy conversations and initiating policy conversation in Gambia where necessary.
“It is absolutely great that the participants have promised to follow up on the outcome of the workshop to engage policy makers in the Gambia especially on peculiar issues identified by the participants at the workshop”
“For every criticism of the actions of the previous Government in the Gambia, we must bear in mind that those actions were made possible by certain frameworks which unfortunately are still in existence.
Stakeholders must, therefore, work beyond what has been done at the 3-day workshop to engage on each of these frameworks and propose amendments where necessary and as well propose a new law where there is apparent lacuna,” says ‘Gbenga Sesan,
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative.
While speaking after the training, Bai Emil Touray, The President, Gambian Press Union says, “There is a positive atmosphere in Gambia right now. Citizens are happy about the democratic transformation recently experienced in Gambia and predictably this has brought with it a new wave of development-driven conversations across all sectors in Gambia. Given ongoing conversations, Gambia must be ready on all fronts and getting her ICT Policy right, is central to the country’s readiness. Speaking further, he said,
“We are happy that Paradigm Initiative has put this workshop together and going forward, we are delighted to work together with all stakeholders to preserve and promote right-respecting and innovation promoting Internet Policy especially on issues that have been identified at the workshop”.