‘US in process of identifying ambassador to Gambia’

Ambassador Alford, it would be recalled, has since left The Gambia to serve as the senior U.S. Civilian Representative in Southern Afghanistan. 

At a press conference held at the American Corner on Wednesday, the top US diplomat, Stephen Schwartz, also said the US State Department welcomed the step taken by The Gambia government to lift a ban on the importation of chicken legs into the country, which he said, will increase Gambia-US trade relations.

Schwartz acknowledged that in recent years there has been a significant increase in terms of trade between the two countries, expressing hope that such a positive momentum can be sustained through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) partnership. 

“We are very pleased that The Gambia lifted the ban on the importation of chicken legs from US because it’s part of our trade relations,” he reiterated, while underscoring that both countries benefit from increased trade in terms of job opportunities.

Schwartz also told journalists that the US cherishes The Gambia’s contribution towards international peace keeping, saying the two have a longstanding relationship dating back to The Gambia’s Independence.

Importance of media

The US diplomat also dilated on the importance of media in a society, saying it plays a crucial role vis-à-vis information needs of the people, effective public accountability and so on.

Obama’s Initiative

Commenting on President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), the diplomat explained that it seeks to empower young and aspiring leaders in the continent given that they are the future leaders who will steer the affairs of the continent.

The US charge d’ affaires in Banjul, Richard Yoneoka, who introduced Schwartz as a seasoned diplomat, also reiterated the US’s commitment to strengthening cooperation between the two countries. He described The Gambia as one of the oldest countries in the United States Peace Corp Programme.

Yoneoka acknowledged that the two countries have increased cooperation in the areas of health, environment and agriculture amongst a host of others.