15/08/2026
INTRODUCTION OF H.E. A.N.M. BA-OUSAINU DARBOE
By Hon. Ya-Kumba Jaiteh at the UDP-Led Alliance Official MOU Signing Ceremony
Kairaba Hotel, 14th August 2026
Your Excellencies, distinguished leaders of the various political parties and movements represented here today, esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The man I am about to call to this podium is, in many respects, a man who needs no introduction. His name, his life, his service, and his contribution to the democratic journey of The Gambia speak for themselves.
I am not here to speak about his academic excellence. I am not here to enumerate his professional achievements. Nor am I here to recount, one by one, the sacrifices he has made for this country. Today, I want to speak about something more fundamental; his character.
I call him incorruptible.
For nearly three decades, this man has lived in the full glare of public life. As the United Democratic Party approaches its 30th anniversary, we are reminded of the extraordinary length and depth of his journey in Gambian public affairs. Yet, throughout those years of political engagement, legal practice, public scrutiny, and personal sacrifice, his reputation has remained anchored in a principle that is increasingly rare in public life: integrity.
Ladies and gentlemen, he is a man who believes in democracy; not merely as an electoral exercise, but as a system founded upon the dignity and participation of the people.
He is a man who believes in the rule of law, not selectively, not when it is convenient, but as the foundation upon which a just and democratic society must stand.
And he is a man who has devoted a substantial part of his life to ensuring that justice is not merely an aspiration, but a reality that ordinary Gambians can claim as their right.
I have the honour of serving as an Executive Member of the United Democratic Party. But beyond that political responsibility, I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the character of this man and the contribution he has made to the jurisprudence and legal development of our country.
I have witnessed his commitment to legal service, including the considerable amount of work he has undertaken on a pro bono basis; providing legal assistance without seeking financial reward.
There were times when those around him had to remind him that dedication to justice did not exempt the people working with him from their own practical responsibilities. Such was his commitment to the cause that, on numerous occasions, the question of compensation appeared secondary to the pursuit of justice.
That tells you something about his character.
This is a man of extraordinary ability, profound dedication, personal sacrifice, and remarkable consistency.
Ladies and gentlemen, thirty years in public life is no small achievement. It is easy to enter politics with conviction; it is much harder to remain there with one's principles intact.
Many people have entered public life in The Gambia with great enthusiasm, only to become discouraged by the difficulties, disappointments, and pressures that accompany political engagement. At one point, even I contemplated giving up on politics.
But whenever I looked at this man still standing, still believing, still fighting, and still committed after decades of political struggle, I found another reason to continue.
His perseverance has been instructive.
His courage has been inspiring.
And his consistency has been a reminder that political service must ultimately be about something greater than personal ambition.
Ladies and gentlemen, I speak of a man of unshakable values; a man who has held firmly to his core principles through decades of political adversity; a man whose convictions have not been easily altered by pressure, convenience, or circumstance.
And today, as we gather to formalise this historic alliance through the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding, we are not merely witnessing the coming together of political organisations. We are witnessing a renewed commitment to a national project founded on unity, democratic governance, justice, accountability, and service to the Gambian people.
At the centre of that responsibility stands a man whose political and professional journey has prepared him for the enormous task before him.
A man trusted by his colleagues and allies to help lead the effort to rebuild the governance of our country.
A man whose life has demonstrated that leadership is not simply about occupying an office. It is about earning trust, carrying responsibility, enduring adversity, and remaining faithful to one's principles.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I therefore have the distinct honour and privilege to invite this man whom many of us affectionately regard as a father (Baba); a man whose life has become intertwined with the democratic struggle of our nation; a lawyer, statesman, democrat, and servant of The Gambia.
Please join me in welcoming our leader, His Excellency A.N.M. Ba-Ousainu Darboe, Leader and Secretary General of the United Democratic Party.
#𝐁𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐋𝐚𝐡𝐃𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐌𝐚𝐡
