The President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, who is on a state visit to The Gambia, has urged Gambians to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and forged a new path.

Bio told journalists at State House yesterday that Gambians should work together to consolidate their new found democracy and avoid getting stuck in a painful past.

“It is good to have a truth commission but it should not mean to go back to open up old wounds. It will definitely bring out certain lessons which you can incorporate in your governance structure in the way people relate to one another so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated. Gambia should do that to catch up with the rest of the world.”

He added that The Gambia could learn from their experiences in Sierra Leone and use those experiences to foster peace and reconciliation.   

“We decided to have a truth and reconciliation commission and people took part in it. I was there myself and the recommendations of the commission have been properly documented and have guided us to be able to move forward as far as development is concerned. It also serves as a guide to make sure that we don’t go back into the bad habits like bad governance, injustice and corruption that led to the war. ”  

Bio lauded the bilateral relations between the two sisterly countries pointing out that it had endured for centuries. He said his country could learn a lot from The Gambia on its booming tourism industry.

He said: “We want to strengthen this relationship to higher heights because we believe we have many things in common.

“The Gambia does very well in tourism and that there is lot we can learn from them.  I think in West Africa, The Gambia is among the few destinations for tourism. We are also trying to learn from The Gambia to see what have been put in place in terms of infrastructure to attract tourists.”

President Adama Barrow echoed similar sentiments adding that The Gambia has a lot to learn in terms of reconciliation from Sierra Leone, a country that moved on from a bitter civil war.

“Our democracy has just restarted while Sierra Leoneans are building on their democracy; they have changed governments on several occasions through a peaceful electoral process. We will work to consolidate our democracy and enhance good governance in The Gambia.”

Barrow said Bio’s three day official visit will accord them the opportunity to discuss bilateral relations on the key areas of education, tourism, trade and investment.

This is Julius Maada Bio’s first visit to The Gambia with his Gambian wife, Mrs Fatima Jabbi Bio, since being elected president of Sierra Leone last year.