DATE: 15th April 2016

VENUE: McCarthy Square

The Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly,

Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic and Consular Corps,

Honourable Minister of Defence and Other Cabinet Ministers present,

The National Security Adviser,

The Chief of Defence Staff,

The Inspector General of Police,

The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff and other Service Chiefs,

Senior Government Officials,

Distinguished Defence Advisers and Attaches, Commandant and Staff of The Gambia

Armed Forces Training School,

Senior and Junior Officers of The Gambia Armed Forces,

Distinguished Guests,

Graduating Class of GAF Commissioning - Course 01,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my profound honour, as Commander-in-Chief of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), to officiate over this Commissioning Parade of Cadets - Course 01.

As the first of its kind in the history of The Gambia, the historic training programme that led to this solemn occasion was conceived to become the foundation of the much-anticipated Military Academy in the country. It sets the stage, from now on, for in-country military officer training and career development.

The rigorous character of the programme was to test and strengthen mental courage, physical endurance, and leadership character to meet the professional standards of commissioned officers.

The course emphasised the professional principles of ‘‘Command, Example and Responsibility.’’ Because serving as a GAF officer requires discipline, sacrifice, and loyalty, we are convinced that the trainees have embraced these values to remain principled personalities for the rest of their lives.

I sincerely commend the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Mamat O.A. Cham, for the foresight of spearheading the initiative. This unprecedented training of Cadets on Gambian soil will surely reinforce the ethos and core values that align with our national objectives, which is necessary in order to ground our Officer Cadets in an acceptable operational culture.

The new Commissioning Course thus forms a critical element of the GAF officer development pipeline. It must remain strictly structured to produce tactically sound and ethically upright junior officers, operationally capable of discharging leadership responsibilities upon being commissioned. We thank the Commandant and staff of the GAF Training School for the commitment to excellence displayed during the training process of these officers. The outcome is the consequence of your collective effort, confirming that excellence, unity, and teamwork go together.

On behalf of the Gambian nation, I convey deep gratitude to the families and loved ones of these young men and women for supporting them throughout their training journey. We acknowledge that family sacrifices and support contributed to setting the stage for this grand success.

By extension, we applaud all those who continue to influence or contribute to shaping GAF and its formidable officers and troops.

Your Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Since 2017, my government has been investing considerably in enhancing the administration and operations of our Security Services. We have, for example, created opportunities for GFA personnel through degree training programmes at The University of The Gambia and other institutions abroad.

So far, more than one hundred GAF personnel, comprising officers and soldiers, have benefited from overseas training in military academies and staff colleges.

In some of these cases, funding and scholarships were secured through our esteemed partners. They include the Republic of Turkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom of Morocco, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, India, and Senegal. We are grateful to all of them.

To match performance with welfare, my government adopted the Terms and Conditions of Service Act (2024), hence the significant changes in the earnings of in the Security Sector. Our goal is to ensure that service to the nation is justly rewarding and worthwhile.

I assure you all that the Government takes pride in our security personnel, and we will continue to support capacity building, infrastructural development, and the welfare of our citizens in uniform.

To you, the graduating Cadets, we express our heartiest congratulations. Be proud of the moment and the training. I enjoin you, however, to remember that you are being initiated into a noble and longstanding tradition of officers and heroes who defended our motherland with unmatched dedication, sacrifice, and courage.

Following this parade and pipping ceremony, you will not be mere cadets and commanders, but authorised officers and leaders. Mindful that the lives of our soldiers and the security of our nation depend on good judgment at every level of command, the responsibility you now carry is significantly critical.

I charge you to uphold the highest standards of good citizenship, professionalism, discipline, and integrity. Live up to the values instilled in you, and lead with compassion.

Your soldiers and ratings will watch you closely for admiration, emulation, or otherwise; so, match your words with actions and conviction. Always place the nation’s interest above self and dedicate yourselves to safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Be reminded further that the global security environment is growing more complex and volatile by the day. The challenges to peace are real, and our country will rely on you to adapt and overcome these ever-changing circumstances, whenever you confront them. Be prepared to lead in every situation to maintain security, stability, and peace.

In this context, embrace lifelong learning, as modern security challenges require intellectual preparedness. I also implore you to take advantage of modern technologies and innovation to advance the capabilities of your respective units. Once more, I congratulate you on your successes and urge you to remember that you carry the hopes of your seniors and the nation as a whole.

To conclude, we wish you excellent careers, marked by greater achievements in your noble endeavours.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for your attention and pray that Allah continues to bless us all.