“We Are Not Here to Clap for Men”: Essau Councillor Demands Women Take Power in Politics

Written by: Alieu Jallow

The ward councillor for Essau Ward under the Kerewan Area Council, Michelle Mendy, has delivered a blunt message to women across The Gambia: stop settling for symbolic roles in politics and start taking power where decisions are made. Speaking to The Fatu Network on the sidelines of an intergenerational dialogue organised by ActionAid International The Gambia in Essau, Lower Nuimi, Mendy said the long-standing expectation for women to support male politicians without stepping into leadership must end.

“Many people think that women are meant to be at home and cheer on men during political events, and it’s high time we change the narrative. We can no longer be seen only clapping, cooking, singing and dancing for men, but change,” she states.

Her remarks reflect a broader national challenge. Although women make up more than 50 percent of The Gambia’s population, their presence in decision-making remains limited. Data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union shows that women hold less than 10 percent of seats in the National Assembly, placing the country among those with the lowest levels of female parliamentary representation globally. At the local government level, progress has been gradual: women councillors still constitute a minority across most area councils.

Deep-rooted cultural norms continue to limit participation. In many communities, leadership is still widely perceived as a male domain, with women relegated to supporting roles during political campaigns rather than leading them. Limited access to resources, lower levels of political financing, and expectations around domestic responsibilities further compound these barriers.

Mendy, known for her advocacy against discrimination and gender-based stereotypes, highlighted her grassroots efforts to shift this narrative. She explained how she mobilised women in her community to support a female candidate during the last local government elections, ultimately contributing to her victory.

“I mobilise and gather my fellow women to talk to them about women’s rights, and there was one of my fellow council members who was never into politics and took a strong stance against the initial candidate, and I campaigned for the lady and she won. Now we are working side by side within our wards,” she outlines.

Amie Keita, Regional Vice Youth Chairperson for the North Bank Region, echoed similar concerns: women are actively courted during elections but sidelined afterwards.

“As women we have to believe in ourselves and know that we can take up these leadership positions. We should not just be clapping. It is high time they clap for us and we take up the responsibility,” she states.

Her observation aligns with findings by UN Women, which show that while women are highly engaged as voters and campaign supporters across Africa, their representation in elected office remains disproportionately low due to structural and institutional barriers.

In a show of allyship, Alasan Hassan Bah, Alkalo of Mayamba village, pointed to efforts within his community to challenge entrenched gender norms by promoting women into leadership roles.

“There is a cultural stigma that women have to be behind the men, and we are trying to eradicate that to see the women at a level with us in developing the village and the community, because their participation is highly important. In my VDC, the chairperson is a woman and the president of the football fans club is also a woman,” he outlines.

Such community-level interventions are increasingly seen as critical in shifting attitudes and creating pathways for women’s leadership from the grassroots upward.

The intergenerational dialogue brought together youths, women, and community leaders to discuss civic space and inclusive governance. Participants stressed a clear point: representation alone is not enough, women must be actively involved in shaping decisions that affect their lives.

As the push for inclusive governance grows, Mendy’s message remains direct: women must move from the sidelines to the centre of decision-making power.