The secretary general of the Commonwealth has revealed that one of the purposes of his visit to The Gambia is to strengthen institutional cooperation aimed at creating human rights, anti-corruption as well as media commissions.

Kamalesh Sharma was speaking to reporters Monday at State House shortly after meeting the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie.

Sharma is also in the country to brief the leadership about the current Commonwealth initiatives including the reform and renewal agenda with a view to make the organisation more focused on addressing the needs of its more than two billion citizens, while advocating for democracy, development and promoting diversity. He described the meeting with the vice president asfruitfuland that it covered all of their aspirations in which they enter into partnership with The Gambia.

He added: “The very important principal of the visit is for us to strengthen the institutional strength of the member states. Collaborating in strengthening our institutions was a big part of our discussion aimed at creating the human rights commission, anti-corruption commission and media commission”. All these are areas the Commonwealth can play a pivotal role as they are embedded in the value documents of the organisation”.

Sharma also disclosed that he had specific discussions with the vice president in the areas of capacity building, women, youth and trade. He described the teeming youthful population as vital in any nation and urged leaders to focus more on the young people.

Dilating on the Commonwealth's commitment in the economic field, Sharma said that they assist small states in the area of trade and also collaborate with the EU in economic partnership. He added that they also created a commission, which is entirely for trade and capacity building towards small states.

The Commonwealth SG also described sports as very vital. He said people have to look at sports beyond competitiveness and see it as a social force in many areas including economy. He disclosed that soon the Commonwealth would conveneyouth & sports ministers' meeting during which many issues of sports would be further advanced.

GMWA Association

In a similar development, Aji Adama Secka, the treasurer of the Gambia Men and Women Association (GMWA), in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, also met VP Njie-Saidy at her office at State House.

Secka was at State House to congratulate the Gambia leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh on his landslide victory in the last presidential election.

“We are here to congratulate him through the vice president and wish him to excel to higher heights and for God to help him reach the highest stage he yearns for.” she explained