At least 20 Gambian journalists from both the print and electronic media on Monday commenced five day training on investigative journalism.

The training organized by Gambia Press Union in collaboration with KONARD, is second of its kind in the history of media training on investigative journalism in the country.

The training is aimed at equipping Gambian journalists with the skillsets to better understand and carry out investigation into all issues of public interest.

This followed a month training of twenty other Gambian journalists organized by Gambia Press Union and Open Society for West Africa in June-July.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, president of Gambia Press Union, Sheriff Bojang jnr, said “we are very confident that at the end of this training all of you out there will go into journalism that is full of impact and that bring reform in the country.”

He described investigative journalism to be a domain that will “name and shame people found doing corrupt practices” adding it will bring collective interest of Gambians.

Mr. Bojang said: “what is lacking in the country… the media men and women going out there in terms of public documents, in terms of holding authorities and decision makers and public officials to account with proofs” adding that has been a problem in the country.

He said the country is at a crossroad in term of governance structures, adding there have been monies coming into the country.

“We know that monies have been coming into the country-millions and billions of monies have been coming into the county, where do they go? Who is benefitting from them?”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba