President Adama Barrow has called on faith groups to propagate and maintain peace and tolerance as a prerequisite for social and economic development.

Barrow was speaking at the State House during a meeting with the outgoing Vatican Ambassador to The Gambia, Dagoberto Campo Salas, who came to bid him farewell.

Barrow’s statement comes days after some imams branded the Ahmadiyya sect as non Muslims trying to propagate their “distorted” version of Islam to Gambians.

The president expressed gratitude to Ambassador Salas for nurturing and expanding the cooperation and collaboration between the Catholic Church and his government.

He noted the support he receives from religious entities, which sway over a large section of the population.

Meanwhile, Barrow reaffirmed that The Gambia will remain an oasis of peace for all religions and that Christians will always find the country a haven for the practice of their faith.

For his part, Ambassador Salas expressed gratitude for the support and fruitful engagement that has been the hallmark between the catholic diocese and the government. 

He conveyed Pope Francis’ fraternal greetings and pledged that the pope would continue to be a powerful voice for world peace, human rights, religious tolerance, and shared understanding among all faiths. 

Bishop of the Catholic Dioceses of The Gambia, Dr. Gabriel Mendy CSSP, and Mr. Pierre LM Sarr, Liasion Officer between the catholic diocese and the Gambia government, accompanied the ambassador to State House. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba