The Gambia Press Union (GPU) has commenced a two-day engagement with media managers and editors to strengthen their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of key governance institutions in the country.
The event, held at Seaview Hotel in Kotu, brings together practitioners from radio, television, print, and online platforms. Discussions are centered on three institutions: the Information Commission, the Media Council of The Gambia, and the Post-TRRC Unit.
Organized under the Gambia’s Responsive and Accountable Democratic Transition (GREAT Initiative), the activity is implemented by GPU in collaboration with TANGO, with funding support from the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Opening the training, GPU Secretary General Modou S. Joof said the engagement provides an inclusive platform for dialogue between media leaders and governance institutions.
“Today’s engagement will help bridge information gaps by increasing participants’ understanding of the mandates, roles, and responsibilities of these important institutions,” Joof noted.
Roles of the Institutions: The Media Council ensures the media operates with professional and ethical standards, handling public complaints and monitoring compliance with the code of conduct. The Information Commission promotes transparency and accountability by monitoring public institutions and addressing complaints related to the right to access information. The Post-TRRC Unit, under the Ministry of Justice, coordinates the implementation of recommendations from the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), a crucial step in advancing The Gambia’s transitional justice agenda.
Juldeh Njie, Programme Officer for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, emphasized that the event is designed to give participants direct access to representatives of the three institutions. “It allows them to ask questions, clarify misconceptions, and gain a better understanding of the services available to the public and the media,” she said.
The engagement is part of GPU’s broader efforts to foster a more informed, ethical, and democratic media landscape in The Gambia
