The United Democratic Party (UDP) has distanced itself from call by supporters to boycott a local telecommunication company, Qcell, and other businesses owned by Muhammed Jah.

Some of the supporters are angry with Mr Jah for supporting President-elect Adama Barrow. 

A statement signed by the party leader Ousainou Darboe said: “I see the campaign for a boycott of the Jah businesses is intensifying. I agree entirely with Amadou that we should be liberal minded, accept and respect choices made by individuals and groups. This campaign strongly validates the label of intolerance attached to us.”

“Although I asked the media team to issue a statement confirming that Ambassador Bah’s appeal was her personal view and not the official position of the party, it does appear that the party is supporting the campaign as our platform is being used to promote the boycott,” he added.

“As a responsible and accommodating party we should engage Jah to win him over. We are putting our party in a bad light. Let us accept that not everyone will support us but that does not mean we should adopt a stand that will further alienate us from some section of the population,” Darboe continued.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba