The Gambia Survey.

 

 

 

Gambians favor term limits for their presidents.

 

 

A survey of 500 Gambians  showed that over three quarters (78  percent) said  their presidents should serve limited terms.

 

Over half (53.2 percent) said a president should be limited to two terms only.  Eighteen percent said the president should serve only one term. But 16 percent said the president should serve  three or more terms and 14 percent said there should be  no limits whatsoever on the president (Table 8). In another question 22 percent said a president should not serve  limited terms (Table 7).

 

The survey was conducted in by  the African Virtual University students at the Gambian Media Training Centre. It was part of the course in the public opinion polling. Twenty five students participated in the survey which was conducted in August and September 2004 in the Greater Banjul Area.

 

Sixty seven percent of the people surveyed were men and 33 percent were females (Table 2) .  Eighty two percent were registered voters while 18 percent were not (Table 4).   Seventy seven percent said they voted in the last presidential election, 24 percent did not (Table 5).  But 81 percent said they planned to vote in the next election while 19 said they would not. (Table 6).

 

About half (47 percent) said they had primary education; 28 percent had secondary and 18 percent had university or higher education. Eleven percent said they had no education(Table 3).

 

The majority (34 percent) were between 26 and 55 years old . Thirty two percent were between  17 and 25 years  old , 12.2 percent 16 years and below; while  23 percent were aged over  55 years old (Table 1).
 

The course coordinator, Mr. Mustapha Cham said:
The presidential term limit is an important issue in the Gambia today. Many feel there should be a limit  in order to help  minimize political instability, corruption and to promote democracy and good governance.
However, during the survey, some  respondents, especially civil servants were unwilling to be interviewed for fear of loss of jobs or other reprisals.

It was also noticed that respondents had varying degrees of political awareness. As a result, the National Council for Civic Education should increase its voter education program.
Other respondents were unwilling to be interviewed unless they were paid. Still others  refused to be interviewed because they said they did not trust journalists whom they described as the architects of political chaos.

 

TABLES.

 

Table 1. Age

 

		Number	Percent
	16 years and below	61	12.2
	Between 17 and 25 years	162	32
	Between 26 and 55	170	34
	Over 55 years	65	23
	Total		101

 

 

Table 2. Sex

		Number	Percent
	Male	311	62
	Female	186	37
	Total	497	99

 

Table 3 Education
		Number	Percent
	None	55	11
	Elementary/Primary	233	47
	Secondary	141	28
	University/higher	92	18
	Total	411	104

 

Table 4 Voter registration
		Number	Percent
	Yes	411	82
	No	92	18
	Total	503	100

 

Table 5 Voted in last presidential election?
		Number	Percent
	Yes	387	77
	No	121	24
	Total	508	101

 

Table 6  Plan to vote in next presidential election?
		Number	Percent
	Yes	406	81
	No	93	19
	Total	499	100
Table 7 Presidential term limits?
		Number	Percent
	Yes	392	78
	No	109	22
	Total	501	100

 

Table 8 How many terms for president?
		Number	Percent
	One term	91	18
	Two terms	266	53.2
	Three terms or more	78	16
	No limits	69	14
	Total	436	101

 

The Gambia Class

1

. Fatou Badjie
  2. Amadou Bah
  3. Modika M Bah
  4. Omar Bah
  5. Ebrima Baldeh
  6. Lamin F Bojang
  7. Abdou F B Boye
  8. Olimatou Cox
  9. Omar Darboe
10.Lamin M Dibba
11. Fatoumatta Drammeh
12.PaModou M Faal
13.Pa Modou Faal
14.Mberry Jabang
15.Sarata Jabbi
16.Mohammed Jallow
17. Mama Janneh
18. Muhammed Jatta
19.Fatou Jeng
20.Sulayman Makalo
21.Ebrima Manneh
22.Ismaila Naban
23.Momodou Sanyang
24.Sheik Al Kinky
25.Sheriff Musa
26.Juldeh J Sowe
27.Modou Touray