Dr. Ismaila Ceesay Re-elected as CA Leader, Endorses Barrow for 2026

CA’s Dr. Ismaila Ceesay © Askanwi

By Edward Francis Dalliah

With just a year remaining until the 2026 presidential elections, the Secretary General of the Citizens' Alliance (CA), Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, has urged his party’s supporters to vote in favor of President Adama Barrow in the upcoming election. This appeal was made during the party’s recent congress, held in Soma on Saturday, 26th April 2025.

The CA congress voted Dr. Ceesay in unopposed for his second term as leader of the party after his only opponent pulled out of the race. CA was founded in 2019 by a group of Gambian citizens, including Dr. Ceesay (now the Minister of Information), Raffie Diab, and Dominic Mendy. The CA was established with the vision of providing a transformative political alternative centered on transparency, national unity, and development. The new CA Executive is listed below:

1. National Chairperson and Chief Resource Mobilizer: Raffie R. Daib

2. Secretary General and Party Leader: Dr. Ismaila Ceesay

3. Deputy Party Leader: Alpha M. K. Low

4. Senior Administrative Secretary: Denrol Carayol

5. Administrative Secretary: Sejo A. Bah

6. National Spokesperson: Ba Landing Jatta

7. Strategic Communication Officer: John Moses Jammeh

8. National Organizing Secretary: Njanga Njian

9. Deputy National Organizing Secretary: Ebrima Drammeh

10. National Logistics Manager: Muhammed S. Baldeh

11. Campaign Manager: Basiru Manka

12. Deputy Campaign Manager: Gabbi Dem

13. President of the Citizens' Youth Alliance: Aliue Njang

14. President of the Citizens' Differently Abled: Ida Bah

15. President of the Citizens' Diaspora Alliance: Modou Lamin Kanagie

Cross section of crowd at CA Congress © Askanwi

The party, which contested elections unsuccessfully, eventually joined the ruling party in 2022, just two years after its formation. While the decision was widely criticised by political analysts and others, the party remained steadfast in its choice. In his address, Dr. Ceesay emphasised that the CA would continue to support President Barrow. He further stated that the party would vote for him in 2026 to ensure his re-election.

In recent years, the party has faced criticism for aligning with the ruling government. However, during the congress, Dr. Ceesay made it clear that they did not regret their decision to join the government. He reassured supporters that the party would continue working alongside the president to advance the country.

Since entering government, Dr. Ceesay has played a visible and influential role in national affairs, particularly in improving access to public information. A key milestone came in April 2024, when Dr. Ceesay was appointed Minister of Information. This move has been pivotal in shaping the government’s communication strategy. Drawing on his experience as a senior lecturer and political analyst, Dr. Ceesay has focused on promoting transparency, open dialogue, and greater citizen engagement.

In his first press conference after his appointment, Dr. Ceesay committed to enhancing government transparency and ensuring that citizens had access to public information. He has since followed through on this promise by launching initiatives such as the Mansa Kunda Town Hall series, an interactive forum that allows citizens and journalists to engage directly with government representatives.

Additionally, he has hosted several press briefings aimed at strengthening the relationship between the government and the media. These sessions have provided journalists with the opportunity to ask questions directly to government officials, helping to foster a culture of accountability and open governance.

However, Dr. Ceesay has been earmarked as one of the most fact-checked government officials since President Barrow appointed him in 2024.

As The Gambia approaches the 2026 elections, the Citizens’ Alliance may emerge as a key player in the country’s political landscape, and their votes could make a significant difference.