International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018
NATIONHOOD AND THE QUEST FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT: “THE GAMBIA’s EXPERIENCE UNDER THE SECOND REPUBLIC, 1994 – 2015”
Dr. Oyejide Felix Omotosho*, Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla**
Abstract
The Gambia and other nations of the world are today in the tasks of nation-building, by harnessing their human, material and ecological resources and channeling them towards increased production for higher outcome and satisfactory basic needs’ requirements, the very essence of development. Man’s primary need is food, followed by security and an enabling and peaceful environment for him to tap potentials and develop him/herself for efforts of national development and human skills’ advancement. This is only achievable through a collective approach championed and protected by a legitimate and responsible government that is development-orienting in a state. The quest for this onerous task has attained its heights after the United Nations took up the universal co-ordination of capacity- building and resource utilization from 1945 when countries that formed the universally-based institution consented to its Charter, where peace and stability, as pivotal to growth, is guaranteed for all human races and nations in dealing together through cross-border relations for socio- economic advancements. When The Gambia got her independence fifty one years ago from her former British colonial oligopoly, the first regime under Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, 1965 – 1994, made frantic efforts to address the problem of development through her national development orientation strives and goals, presumed conservative in nature and hence inadequate for effective implementations of dynamic policies and programs that guarantee a sustainable development process. This resulted in economic sluggishness in the state that gave room to poverty and high level of illiteracy. Instead for the state now to experience enormous rapid socio-economic development and growth the way emerging countries in the Third World have and continued to, like Singapore, Brazil including those of Africa, for the thirty years of rule of the first republic, what was witnessed is underdevelopment of the development of the Gambia as a result of inactive economic policies and over-dependence on the outside that could not survive sustainable growth for the nation. This ushered in the 22nd July, Revolution led by Yahya jammeh in 1994 to bring about a positive change that can move the wheel of the small nation faster than what was being experienced. The new regime that had heralded a new era of second republic settled down for a new policy-thrust and directional approach, believed to be strategic and pragmatically positioned for not just a sustainable growth, but, also turning the Gambia to a middle/high income country as well as an economic super power. This informed “The Vision 2020” Blueprint/Agenda that the regime launched to achieve this onerous and monumental state objective in the national interest.
This paper examines the Gambia’s nationhood from 1965, when it attained independence and all efforts of national development by the two regimes so far both in first and second republics. The paper looks at the various policy-thrusts of the governments and how such have been effective to achieving sustainable development goals, through socio-economic programs and other drives that have complimented the efforts of the state to realize sustainable growth.
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The researchers view that, although, this onerous task was begun in the first republic, but, with policies that were conservatively-constructed, placing the country to be too dependent on the outside and making it to lack rigorous development strives and progress, thereby, causing it to lag in innovation and self-reliance and rendering the populace poor and non- active. They argued that, with the coming of the second republic and a reversal of policy- thrust with a pragmatic approach, the economy began to be bouncing and responding to modern innovation, giving life to its citizenry and generating more vibrant, self-sustaining and reliant opportunities for them to contribute to nation-building. The paper opines that, not until this innovative and accelerated- development process began and the economy had been well-positioned and programmed under the new government, that, the Gambia began to experience genuine sustainable growth that is future guaranteeing and assuring.
Keywords: Nation, Nationhood, National Development, the Gambia, Second Republic and Independence.
1.0 Background of Study and measures are therefore raised for the Methodology: administration to tap into in furtherance of In this study, the meanings to the concepts efforts to industrialize the state, by of ‗Nation‘ and ‗Nationhood‘ are searched engaging the citizenry the more and with conceptual approaches and frame- agencies of the government, through works, given the considerations of such an accelerated-development strives with a effort into how nations or nation-states, as view to making the Gambia an economic the case may be, strive for national hub, a destination for future investors and development, in meeting with state visitors around the world, indeed a happy objectives and directional goals, under a home for all Gambians and non-Gambians vibrant, pragmatic and people-oriented alike. political leadership. An inference is drawn into the Gambia‘s experience by surveying 2.0. Introduction: Conceptualizing happenings from 1965 when the country Nation and Nationhood with attained independence and how the efforts Methodological and Empirical have been re-doubled through pragmatic Approaches. approaches and political determinism with The term nation has not been easy to define the inception of the second republic in 1994 with precision. As a result, academics and under the leadership of President Yahya the statesmen who have attempted this Jammeh. To this effect, the strategies and effort to defining the concept have had to approaches that the latter has employed in grapple with some complications and the formulation, execution and realization contestations that have called for a of policies and plans for his visionary consensus on what exactly is it? The term, objectives are explored so as to decipher having associated with itself both a political the basic inductive and deductive facts for meaning, ethno-cultural and ethnographic objective analysis and generalized conclus- conceptions, is believed to be natural- ions. Asides, descriptive- analytical tools as inclined in the one part and politically well as prescriptive method are used to motivated in the other part (Omotosho, present facts for value- judgment. A 2014:3-4, Irobi, 2007:8). number of suggested standards and
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A great political and law historian, Ernst affirmation of life. Renan concludes that Renan, writing in 1882 on ‗What is a nationhood is not an eternal concept, but Nation‘? Views it as a soul and spiritual changes over time the way everything in principle, saying it is a two-in-one concept, the world changes (Renan: 2011). with one in the past and the other in the present. The one in the past is the Another political historian, Karl Deutsh, in possession in common of a rich legacy of a quote sometimes mistakenly attributed to memories; the other is present – day Renan, has said that a nation is ―a group of consent, the desire to live together, the will people united by a mistaken view about the to perpetuate the value of the heritage that past and a hatred of their neighbors‖ one has received in an undivided form (Renan, 2011 and Gettel, 1933). For (http://www.google.com/ Anderson in his 1983 work ‗Imagined search?q=%22Qu%27es++nation&tbs=bks political community‘ refuting Renan‘s %3AI&tbo=) He describes a nation as ‗a claim when the latter says French people daily referendum‘, saying nations are based must have forgotten the St. Bartholomew‘s on what the people jointly forget and what Day massacre when Renan was trying to they jointly remember with semantic draw analogy between the past and the reference to nationalism and national present with ‗French‘ as a variable. The identity. This corroborates Omotosho‘s condemnation of Anderson was on the view of nationhood as the citizenry‘s grounds of his own thought about the efforts under an organized government to French state on how the French of Renan‘s realize national objectives and goals. Renan time took no notice of this past because begins his essay by noting that there is such were not practically brought to their frequent confusion between the idea of memories as they learnt of them in state- nationhood and of racial or linguistic run schools, hence a deliberate attempt by groupings, that which has produced the the state to write-off the past (Renan, gravest errors (Renan, 2011, Omotosho, 2011). 2015). To Renan, the essence of a nation is that the people have many things in A distinguished political scientist, common, but have also forgotten much Dankwart Rustov in Anifowoshe, alerts us together and to him, this is what forms to the subjective and objective dimensions nationhood. While many nations, like of nationhood. On the subjective side are France begin with a feudal regime such as a feelings of attitudes and symbols that lead a monarchy, others, such as the United States people to their own national identification and Switzerland are formed by acts of which breeds nationalism and sense of consensual aggregation. He ruled out race, belonging. On the objective side are factors language and religion as being the deep- like history, common territory, language or seated roots for a nation, citing the case of literature, culture and traits. Hence, while France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy and not all the objective traits are really needed Switzerland as unique in the making of to make a nation or nation-state substantial nations as modern countries, much as portion of them together with the larger people think otherwise (Renan: 2011). A aspects of the subjective ideals is what very important element of nationhood, says instigate the formation of a nation to a full Renan, is the desire to continue forming nation-state (Maclver, 1962: 22; Anifowoshe, part of the nation, just as the continuing et al., 2005: 91-92; Barker, 1961). existence of an individual is a perpetual Therefore, to these scholars, a modern
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 nation or state is conceived from this perception as a body of people, occupying a For Roskin, et al., (1994: 26-34), in their territorial society, who possess a formal own submission, the term nation has also organization of public authority for control- been around for centuries, but not ing their behavior. This authority is the necessarily in its present sense. Far back in only one recognized by all members of the history, as they maintain, human groups association and is not subordinate to any called themselves nations, but originally other government. This in itself begins this meant something like a big tribe, such nationhood and the quest for national as the ―nation of Israel‖ or ―Sioux nation‖. consciousness, growth and development to The Latin root of nation means ‗birth‘ protect national sovereignty and interest connoting where you were born into and (Anifowoshe, 2005:91). had some blood linkage with. The term ethnic group, from the Greek ethos In punctuating their own concept of a ―nation‖, in turn is from the Greek for nation as ‗State‘, (Garner, et al., 2012: custom, ethos, indicating people with 27=29), view it as a notoriously difficult shared customs. In the seventeenth century, concept to define as it is a classic example this nomenclature and status changed of an essentially contested term (Gallie, dramatically to mean large, powerful 1955-6). In Garner‘s words, ‗Some have political entities that currently govern their argued that the state is not a suitable territories and their people. State power concept for political theory, since it is was merged with the notion of a people impossible to define it just as (Hoffman and with much in common (history, culture, Graham, 2006:22) have concurred‘. Garner, language) occupying a territory which et al., 2012:27 eventually conceive of a state transformed to a nation-state, a (nation or nation-state) as one which seeks combination of people (nation) and an institutional control of both physical, government structure (state), which is human and other materials in autonomy simply referred as nation. The rise of the from other states with full legitimacy and modern nations, prompted by history of recognition by other states of such state nationalism and feeling of nationhood control and existence, thereby, which was begun in Europe during the corroborating the perceptions of Weber, Renaissance age, culminating into the William Blackstone and Jean Bodin (1529 defeat of the papacy hegemony and the – 96) who happened to be the one who concomitant fall of the Roman Empire developed the concept of a sovereign state. witnessed a surge in the rise of newer and To him and Blackstone, the idea of the mostly smaller states in Europe apart from sovereign state denotes its superiority as the Russia, Greece, Sparta and the likes. This highest form of authority in a particular development facilitated the agreement territory which no other one supersedes reached by the European states to close within the territory, but, which is deals on ‗Monarchs‘ rules and settled for confronted with some external quagmires state system and genuine World Order, and challenges like the roles and activities transforming into the Westphalia Treaty of of the institutional regimes that are 1648, the same era that heralded the increasingly becoming more formidable emergence of international regime by the and unprece-dented (Laski, 1967, Barker, World Oligopolies (Holsti, K.J. 1983:29- 1928 and 1961, Heywood, 2007:110-126 92, Akinboye and Ottoh, 2005:83-110). As and Appadorai, 1975:14-18). remarked by Garner, et al. (2012: 120-121),
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‗It is undoubtedly the case that the desire to membership of the United Nations as a organize political communities according to sovereign national unit by scholars of nationalistic principles has been of central ‗Nations and Nationalism‘. Roskin does importance in the past two centuries. not, of course, hold back on the challenging Nationalism emerged in the 19th century, as factors to nationhood, which include the decline of monarchical power and problem with identity, legitimacy, authority eroded previous loyalties‘ penetration, participa-tion, resource (Garner, et al, 2012: 121-122, Hoffman and distribution, war and other crises, by Graham, 2006: 266). The search for identifying them for possible survey- national identity was initially a European analysis and a proof that, nation becomes phenomenon, centering on the striving for nation-state not from the sky, but, from the German and Italian unification, achieved in struggles of human, material and ecological 1871 and 1861 respectively and, after the forces that prepare it to manifest towards end of the First World War, national self- nationhood (Heywood, 2007:110, determination as set out by the then US Appadorai, 1975:14). President, Woodrow Wilson in the peace settlement. After the Second World War, The extensions of these struggles which this wind of nationalism shifted base and came as nationalist movements in the direction to the colonial territories of colonial territories of the sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and some parts of the Persian Africa in the 1990s blew across the land of Gulf where the European colonizers were the place now called The Gambia, during still in firm control of their colonies and which her nationhood was developed in where the indigenous settlers and colonial 1965 when it got her independence from subjects had been awakened to self- Britain on February 18. The resultant effect consciousness and determination, following was the quest for national development, UN‘s declaration on this and increased through cooperation and diplomacy with level of the world‘s globalization with the outside world and through internal mutual respect for sovereignty of nations, efforts made by the political gladiators and irrespective of size, economy and military actors in building a virile and self-reliant strength. This tempo increased the number nation. of sovereign nations in the globe within the juridical influence of the UN system that We can therefore view national develop- took the stage to harmonize international ment as that effort coordinated by a actors‘ behaviors and actions for world sovereign state through its agency peace and security (Garner, et al, 2012; (government) to commit all its citizenry Hoffman and Graham, 2006; Gareis, 2012 and other physical, material and immaterial and you can also see the web link resources to genuine intents and strives www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc/ towards nation-building through capacity garner/ze). utilization and empowerment. This, The Gambia has been part within the global Roskin, et al, 1994: 28-34 list as elements continuum and the New World Order in the of nationhood the following namely; post-cold war era. National development is territory, population, independence and a conceivable effort of statecraft by all government, corroborating the generally stakeholders, usually planned in phases or accepted consensus elements of territory, facets for targeted sustainable growth rates population, government, permanence and that are susceptible to change and
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 measurement / assessment under a dynamic an over-whelming Islamic state but by its and people-centric government. This 1996 constitution, recognized as a secular mechanism usually follows a process that state to give room for free faiths as portions involves planned strategies with a great of the population are mainly Catholics and vision for future growth and self- other Christian folks like Methodist, Baptist sustenance that will avoid any form of and the Pentecostals, while the insignificant over-reliance of a nation on others without remaining population are animists. recourse. Such development strives engage Originally, it was part of Mali Empire, later the tools of expertise, economic drivers the ancient Ghana and finally the Songhai inherent in an economy as well as a stable Empires before becoming a geo-political political environment and viable electoral entity as a nation. The country is divided process that guarantee enormous peace for into seven administrative regions of West, attainable self-sustaining development, North-Bank, Lower-River, Central-River believed to make a nation giant (Omotosho, and Upper-River with two Municipalities 2014). of Kanifing and Banjul. Its capital city is Banjul formerly Barthust (which clocks 3.0. Sustainable National Development 200years, this April) as one of the oldest in and Strides from 1965, the Second the sub-Saharan Africa. Politically, it is Republic in Focus: “A Descriptive- divided into eight local government areas Analytical Survey”. (LGAs), 35 Districts, 114 Wards and 2070 The Gambia is a small country on the West village Development Councils for Coast of Africa. It is fondly referred to as administrative convenience and the Gateway and Smiling Coast of West development-oriented economic planning. Africa because of its strategic location on Its political system is unitary- presidential, the Atlantic Ocean to the rest of the world. with a supreme consti-tution and a It extends inland for about 400km along the popularly elected President of the republic. banks of the river Gambia at widths It has a fascinating electoral regime and varying from 24 to 28km, covering an behavior, with a multi-party politics of approximate land area of 11,000sqkm. It is First-Past-the-Post system with the use of bordered on the North, South and East by ―Drums and Marbles‖ voting system to the Republic of Senegal and on the West by cater for the shortfall in the literacy level of the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of the polity (Omotosho, 2014, 2015 and about 1.8million. Source (2013 census), 2016, Hughes and Perfect, 2006, Perfect, growing at a rate of over 4.1% per annum, 2008, Jagne, 2015 and Faal, 2008 and see The Gambia is a multi-ethnic and a multi- the link; http://www.statehouse.gm/ racial society with an unparalleled degree vision2020/conlusion.htm). of ethnic, racial and religious tolerance and civil tranquility. Small as it is, it has over One significant effort first made towards fifteen ethnic groupings, with Mandinka national development was the being 36% as the largest, Fula 22%, Wollof independence attainment, coupled with the 14%, Jola 11% alongside other smaller refusal of the Sir Jawara regime in the first units like the Serre, the Bambara, Majango, republic to sign an accord of stay with the Aku (the ex-slaves) who were left at the sister republic of Senegal as ‗Sene- Gambia‘s coast after slave trade or later Gambia‘. That move made by the returned to the Gambia before colonialists on the intent to take future independence among others. The Gambia is advantage of the development within the
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 territory, and which was rebuffed by replaced by the Program for Sustainable Jawara regime was a remarkable decision Development (PSD) in 1988/89 when ERP to give the small nation a sound footing for expired good take-off. Jawara was quick to say and http://dailynews.gmafrica/gambia/article/an decide that The Gambia was viable and -in-depth-analysis-of-development-registered- stable enough to grow and sustain as a before-22july-and-after-asgambia-celebrates sovereign nation, a development -48th- and http://www.statehouse.gm/vision appreciated by the vast majority of the 2020/conlusion.htm. Suffices to say, that, Gambian population (Faal, 2008). In since 1985, The Gambia made considerable addition, the first government was able to progress in economic management, however, consolidate on the unity and natural peace per capita income barely increased during that exist within the atmospheric regions of this period (partly, as a result of rapid the state, where Wollof as a language is demographic growth), lagging behind high widely spoken in the country up to and middle income countries in terms of neighboring Senegal and where people are social indices. The production base on united as a people, despite other political economic remains narrow and national and artificially created features that tended income still depends heavily on volatile to set them apart and despite, that the activities like tourism, re-export trade and Wollof are not the dominant ethnic group an undiversified agricultural system with in the state. This created a robust very little, if no industrial activity (http:// atmosphere and an enabling environment dailynews.gmafrica/gambia/article/an-in- for nation-building (Omotosho, 2014). With depth-analysis-of-development-registered- peace, development is unlimited. before-22july-and-after-asgambia-celebrates- 48th- and http://www.statehouse.gm/vision In the first ten years after independence, 2020/conlusion.htm, http://eeas.europa.eu/ macro-economic conditions in The Gambia delegations/gambia/eu/gambiadevelpoment were broadly stable and economic growth cooperation/index.en.htm. rates impressive, averaging 6 – 7 % per annum in real terms. However, from 1975 – In the first republic, where, we experienced 1985, the year of world crisis, the this low level of economic performance and performance of the economic state political will to strategically position the weakened considerably. During this economy for a greater performance, things decade, the economy was confronted with were worsened by the astronomical level of numerous imbalances on both the domestic corruption in the polity, an occurrence that and external fronts culminating in was inimical for any promising viability. economic crises in the 1980s. To redress The conservative-led Jawara administration these imbalances, a strategic state policy condoned indiscipline and ostentations was induced as Economy Recovery among his cabinet officials without checks Programme (ERP) embarked upon in the on their atrocities. This increased the rate of mid-1985 with assistance from the World unemployment, debt profile and decaying Bank, the International Monetary Fund and infrastructures that became unkempt, as other multilateral and bilateral donors. The state resources were wrongly diverted ERP under President Jawara succeeded without trace. partly in stabilizing the economy but failed to achieve the ultimate objective of ensuring Inflation increased considerably as sustainable growth. This prompted its being education was given a leap attention in
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 encouraging people to go to school for round the new administration for home broadened and analytical minds. The support and material and psychological Gambia was in this saga/scenario till 1994 backing. The consultations, which went when a revolution took place and brought with seminars and community talks on the an era of a new republic under President Vision, helped also to eradicate ignorance, Yahya Jammeh. The new government conservatism and illiteracy among the settled down and set out objectives for larger society, creating a high level of strategic plans that heralded ―The Gambia‘s awareness and consciousness to self- incorporated …Vision 2020‖, a Vision reliance and hard work. Based on this, the coordinated by national think-tank and a new government became very popular Blueprint meant to transform the small among the citizenry as all and sundry are nation into a palace golden fleece for a carried along and are given opportunities to global economic hub. In consequence, six tap potentials through available economic major activity areas were brought to focus drivers, mainly, education, agriculture, under the agenda for achievements and they business and tourism. It was on this were Agriculture, Industry, Trade, Tourism, premise that broad outline of policies to Finance and Banking and Manpower facilitate objective realization and full Development and Innovation. This was accomplishment that the transformational structured around the following broad parts, agenda to be spread over a period of twenty namely; five years were visualized and scientifically conceptualized (http:// Part 1- bringing to light the objectives of www.statehouse.gm/vision2020/conclusion the Mission statement in more concrete .htm). In this popular participation, it was terms so as to give a better feel of the held that the Gambia had a number of height of the noble objective in a document weaknesses and internal imbalances that form, known as ―The Vision Document‖, needed to be addressed, just as it was also acknowledged that there present some Part 2-diagnosing the present situation as potentials and values that give her strengths measurement of the Vision‘s aspiration for a vibrant economic performance and level and strides. Such strengths were identified as the natural peace the country is blessed Part 3-highlighting in concrete terms the with, which is a development indicator for strategies with which the state is to investment flows and export earnings, effectively and efficiently pursue and while others were the arable lands the achieve the stated goals and objectives. country possesses to expand agriculture and diversify the economy from its trado-tourist In achieving this noble objective, the indices for surplus food and exports. government made wide consultations and Weaknesses like corruption in the public popular outreach with the people in order to service, maintenance culture, illiteracy, carry everybody along and made everyone poverty, starvation, early marriages of girls to contribute massively to national and their withdrawals from schools for development efforts under the new regime. economic reasons and unemployment to Such wide consultations did not only create mention just a few were named as germane awareness among the populace, but to underdevelopment and serious sensitized them towards the importance of backwardness (Omotosho, 2015). Agriculture nation-building and the alacrity to rally was identified as the country‘s mainstay
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 and if dependence and poverty would be employment generation for the rural defeated, people must be oriented towards populace in order to boost production and farming to produce mere food, of course, in the business sector was not left behind, surplus and for exports to boost gross with the banking and finance industry in national income, while increasing gross the lead to encourage capital retention and domestic income through tax generation in finance, whereby, money can be available a robust employable economy for capacity to borrow and encourage the growths of generation. In effect, a strategic policy of small and middle-scale businesses and ―Let‘s Grow What We Eat and Eat What enterprises for the Gambians. This has We Grow‖ was embraced through proven successful and rewarding in fast- institutional framework and thrust. Today, tracking sustainable development nationally. the country is billed to be exporting rice as For the tourist industry, enormous foreign one of its crops for foreign reserves. On investments were attracted from the outside education, not only was the Girl-Child through the economic diplomacy of the Education Program launched but Jammeh administration to boost local stupendous number of schools are built earnings and foreign reserves. This around in collaboration with several generated a lot of employment for the intergovernmental and non-governmental youths in particular while encouraging organizations and agencies like the UN, the urbanize-tion. The entertainment industry European Union and some other richer and sports are not left behind in this nations of the world, both within and crusade, as the government pumped in outside the region, like Nigeria, Venezuela, some money to boost expansion for income Cuba, Qatar, America, Britain and the generation and youth engagement in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These countries national growth. The women were and agencies entered into agreements with empowered economically and politically the government of the Gambia to expand for them to be fully engaged and utilized in infrastructures, boost growth rates, the national interest, while balancing establish industries, build schools, improve gender inequalities in the society. To this on the health sector, agronomy and end, several projects were launched like generate appreciable income and National Youth Service Program, Women employment on mutual ground of respect Bureau etc. to boost participation and for the sovereignty of the small nation, The empowerment. university of the Gambia and other higher institutions were built in 1999 to produce Among those laudable programs put in the needed manpower for the nation and place by the administration was the boost research and development through Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) for the nation‘s ivory tower. The Jammeh 1916, believed to have been assessed by the Foundation for Peace was envisioned to sponsors like the United Nations Develop- support the downtrodden and the ment Program (UNDP) , as very successful underprivileged and this gave birth to and achieving , This program, aimed at Jammeh Hospital and the Trado-medical eradicating poverty, illiteracy and care for chronic ailments like Aids/Virus, unemployment, while creating catalysts for infertility, Tuberculosis, paralysis, food security, youth employability, women blindness the list goes on. In agriculture, empowerment, robust infrastructural fisheries were improved on as it constitutes growth and expansion, especially in the a greater percentage of income and transport section, health(which is wealth),
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 education and skills acquisition. – and to meeting the country's MDGs. http://www. ruralpovertyportal.org/country/approaches/t The four strategic objectives that ANRP ags/gambia sets out for 2015 are: Improved and sustainable levels of 4.0. Rural Poverty Approaches Policies and food and nutrition security throughout strategies in The Gambia in the Second the country, particularly among Republic: Eradicating Rural Poverty, the vulnerable populations. Product of Underdevelopment and an A commercialized agricultural sector, Obstacle to Sustainable Growth. ensuring competitive, efficient value chains and market linkages. Since the mid-1980s, The Gambia has Stronger public and private institutions implemented economic policies favouring to provide services and help reduce macroeconomic stability, market liberaliza- vulnerability to food and nutrition tion and private-sector development. In the insecurity. 1990s, the government adopted a long-term Sustainable and effective management strategy, The Gambia Incorporated Vision of natural resources. 2020, as a blueprint for accelerated and sustainable development to turn The The country's most important blueprint for Gambia into a middle-income country. agricultural development is The Gambia National Agricultural Investment Programmed More recently, The Gambia's framework (GNAIP) 2011-2015. Fully aligned with the for poverty reduction, food security and goals of Vision 2020, the plan guides pro- growth was outlined in its Programmed for poor investments. As the main pathway to Accelerated Growth and Employment sustainable development, it looks towards 2012-2015 ( PAGE) (the successor changing the orientation of the agricultural document to previous poverty reduction and natural resource sector from strategy papers). The program builds upon subsistence to commercial production, with the Millennium Development Goals a focus on smallholders. GNAIP thus (MDGs) and the objectives of Vision 2020 serves as a basis for all donors in the sector and defines the overall government strategy to match their future interventions with for achieving sustainable growth and government plans and priorities. development. It recognizes that poverty reduction in rural areas requires priority The estimated investment required to investment in the agriculture, health and achieve full implementation of GNAIP is education sectors. more than US$ 200 million for the programmer‘s six main components: Another key document, the Agricultural Improvement of agricultural land and and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) water management. 2009-2015, was approved and launched at Improved management of other shared The Gambia's first-ever national farmers' resources. conference. This policy is part of the Development of agricultural value government's commitment to transforming chains and market promotion. agriculture into a robust, market-oriented National food and nutrition security. sector that makes an important contribution Sustainable farm development. to poverty reduction and economic growth
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GNAIP coordination, monitoring and investment flows and instilled discipline in evaluation. the citizens, making them responsive and ever-more useful as dependable workforce, The Government of The Gambia has also especially in the public service. This made strides in developing other sectoral promoted good governance and disciplined policies–particularly the Gender and workforce as well as positive and Women Empowerment Policy 2010-2020 progressive thinking society. Religious and National Youth Policy 2009-2018. In tolerance is accommodated and public future years, the full implementation of fighting prohibited discouraging any form these policies will complement the of hooliganism and gangsterism in public country's broader socio-economic growth places, especially, those common among and sustainable development. the youths at club houses, bus stops and garages, where the unemployed do gather Although The Gambia is a party to the to foment trouble for desperate politicians Maputo Declaration, which obliges and ill-gotten business moguls for just a tip. governments to allocate at least 10 per cent of their annual national budgets to 5.0. Conclusion/Recommendations agriculture, its annual budget allocation to With the United Nations Development the agriculture sector is around 7 per cent. Assistance Framework in partnership with However, the government is adopting a the government of the Gambia for effective public-private partnership approach to fill monitoring mechanism, 2012-2016 as well critical investment and service gaps in the as the effective implementation mechanism agriculture and rural development sectors. of National Development Strategy 2020 of The private sector is expected to assume a Warsaw Pact, September, 2012, the govern- lead role in providing enterprise investment ment of the Gambia has been able, not only resources and entrepreneurial management, to lay a good foundation for a good while the public sector serves as a economic take-off for a sustainable economy facilitator and catalyst. Public-private in the 21st century. As at 2015, the investments in the production and government has been able to vigorously expansion of field crops, and in livestock pursue and commended for its accelerated and horticulture, will be especially objectives that are believed to have yielded advantageous. positive results for true nation-building Source: IFAD. process. Although, much still need to be done in tackling indiscipline in society and On the political front, corruption and fighting corruption (the enemy of crimes were confronted head on, using development), in order to realize total war institutional frameworks like War Against against these menace, the reason for which Indiscipline, Environmental sanitation the government should step up efforts to locally called Cellcetta, National Drug law eliminating them and build confidence in Enforcement Agency, Rumor Spreading foreign and local investors. An institutional and Gossiping, for them to tackle mechanism is required to engaging corruption and fight crimes in the overall investors for robust investments through interest of a harmonious and crime-free favorable tax regime that will favor both society where businesses and opportunities the state and the future investors, especially can thrive for national unity and growth. in an increasingly volatile world economy These attracted enormous foreign that is frustrating cash flows, favorable
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International Academic Journal of Development Research (IAJDR) Vol.5, No.2, Jan-Jun, 2018 international trade and technology transfer. References Aside, more efforts are still required to encourage local technology by promoting 1. Jagne, 2015, The Gambia-Taiwan science and technical education and skills Relations, 1970-2013, an unpublished acquisition among the growing youths, who Article, university of the Gambia, are leaders of tomorrow and engine of Brikama. development. More is also still needed to 2. Roskin, etal, 1994, Political Science: promoting harmony and love among the An Introduction, Prentice-Hall Interna- diverse populace by shunning all forms of tional, Inc. New Jersey, 07632. tribalism, ethno-centric feelings and hate 3. Heywood, 2007, 3rd ed; Politics, which sometimes occur, especially during Palgrave Foundations, Uk. pp. 110- national and ethnic events within the polity. 126. More is needed to garner more support and 4. Heywood, 2004, 3rd ed; A Political political patronage for the government in Theory-An Introduction, Palgrave order to boost the latter‘s ego and Basingstoke. enthusiasm towards national efforts and 5. Anifowoshe, e tal, 2005, Elements of integration. This will spur the government Politics, Iroanusi Sam Publications, into pragmatic steps that will actually and Lagos. Pp .85-105. genuinely achieve for the nation the 6. Laski, 1952, 5th ed; A Grammar of blueprint document on the Vision 2025 and Politics, Allen and Unwin, London. the dream of an economic super- power 7. Laski, 1967, A Grammar of Politics, that the government is prepared to achieve Allen and Unwin, London.pp.15. for the country by 2025 and after. In this 8. Maclver, 1966, the Modern State, sense, a collective approach is the answer OUP, London. through popular participation in national 9. Appadorai, 1975, 11th ed; The development and sense of belonging in substance of Politics, Oxford national affairs and polity. As the University Press, London. Pp.14-18. institution of the state, the government is 10. Barker, 1928, the Study of Political obliged to lead this struggle through Science and its Relation to Cognate dialogue, more consultations across the Studies, Cambridge. UK. country and respect for the overwhelming 11. Akinboye e tal, 2007, A Systematic opinions of the people on matters of Approach to International Relations, national question within the frame of Concept Publications, Lagos. pp. 85- national ethics and values. The government 112. should try to encourage civic education 12. Holsti, K.J. 1983, 4th ed; International among the citizenry in promoting respect Politics: A Framework For Analysis, for national symbols and identities that give Prentice-hall Int‘l. Inc. pp.29-92. value to nationhood, such as respect for the 13. Garner, R. e tal, 2nd ed; Introduction to constitution, national flag, national anthem, Politics, Oxford University Press, Uk. national traffic laws and the government 14. Omotosho, 2014, Ethnicity and nation- institutions like the civil service, the head building in Nigeria, race, Ethnicity and of state and his pictures among others not Place conference publication, mentioned. This will promote national Binghamton University, USA-web cohesion and love for patriotism and link@ http://rep-/abstracts/oyejide%20 nationalistic feelings. felix%20omotosho.pdf pp.3-4.
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15. Omotosho, 2014, The Electoral 22. United nations Development Assistance Process in the Gambia: ―A Giant Stride Framework (UNDAF), 2012-2016, in the Makings of a Viable and Stable The Gambia, July, 2011. Political System, ICON, Canada, 23. National Development Strategy 2020: Global Journal Online Publication-web Active Society, Competitive Economy, link; http:// Efficient State, Warsaw, September, www.globaljournal.ca/englishpapers.ht 2012. ml pp.4-16. 24. BBC News Africa, 2014, Jan; 15: 16. Omotosho, 2015, Nationhood and the 16:58GMT. Quest for national Development: The 25. Economic Commission for Africa, case of the Gambia Second Republic‘s 2011, National Strategy for Sustainable Pragmatic Approach, The Gambia‘s Development in Africa: A Sixteen- Golden Jubilee Public Lecture Country Assessment, Addis Ababa, Organized by the School of Arts and Ethiopia. Web-Link for searches: Sciences, University of the Gambia, 26. http://www.ruralpovertyportal. Brikama Campus. org/country/approaches/tags/gambia 17. The Voice Newspaper, 2015, 27. (http://www.statehouse.gm/vision Nationhood and the Quest for national 2020/conclusion.htm Develop-ment: The case of the Gambia 28. http://dailynews.gmafrica/gambia Second Republic‘s Pragmatic /article/an-in-depth-analysis-of- Approach, Vol.8.No.53 ISSN: 0796-130 development-registered-before-22july- (Authored by Omotosho, O. Felix). and-after-asgambia-celebrates-48th- 18. Weekend Observer, 2014, by Jawara 29. http://www.statehouse.gm/vision Sanna, UTG lecturer (Omotosho, O. 2020/conlusion.htm, Felix) commends Gambia‘s Political http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/gamb system, ISSN 0796-0832 in www. ia/eu/gambiadevelpomentcooperation/i Observer.gm, Vol.22, No.215, pp.6, ndex.en.htm 7th-9th, November. 30. www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/orc 19. Irobi, 2013, Ethnicity and nation- /garner/ze. Building in Contemporary Africa: A Perspective for Non-killing Working Papers, USA. ISSN 2077-141x (print); ISSN 2077-1428(Online). Dr. Oyejide Felix Omotosho* 20. Omotosho, 2016, An Assessment of Senior Lecturer, Department of Political the Electoral and Democratization Science, University of the Gambia, Brikama, Process of the Gambia‘s First and the Gambia, West Africa. Second Republics, 1965-2015: ―A Email: [email protected] / Comparative Analysis‖, being a PhD [email protected] Thesis submitted to the St. Clements University, West Indies in Partial Dr. Derin K. Ologbenla** Fulfillment for the Award of the PhD Associate Professor, Department Of Certificate, 2016, chp.2. Political Science, University Of Lagos, 21. Renan, E. 2011, ―Que!st-cequ!une Akoka – Lagos; nation‖, conference faite en Sorbonne, Email: [email protected] le 11 Mars 1882, Accessed January 13,2011.
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